The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) is pleased to announce the 2009 Public LAB season line-up, featuring new works by Darrell Dennis, Raúl Castillo, Alex Timbers and Michael Friedman, and Suzan-Lori Parks. Public LAB's second season, which began with the LAByrinth Theater Company's production of Philip Roth in Khartoum by David Bar Katz in December, will continue on February 20 with the U.S. premiere of Tales of an Urban Indian, a result of The Public Theater's Native Theater Initiative. The Public LAB season will also include the world premiere of Knives and Other Sharp Objects, the New York premiere of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, and a world premiere by The Public Theater's Master Writer Chair Suzan-Lori Parks. Tickets, priced at $10, go on-sale on Friday, January 30.
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation supported Public LAB with one of the largest grants ever received by The Public Theater. It will be used, in part, to allow audiences to see these important new plays for only $10, cheaper than the price of a movie ticket. Building on the success of the inaugural Public LAB season, the 2009 performance schedule has been expanded from 19 performances to 27 performances for each show.
Public LAB is an annual series of new plays that lets New Yorkers see more of the work they love from The Public and LAByrinth Theater Company in stripped-down productions. Public LAB allows The Public Theater to support more artists, and gives audiences immediate access to new plays in development.
"Public LAB is what The Public Theater exists to do: bringing electrifying new work, without price barriers, to New York's most diverse audience," said Public Theater Artistic Director Oskar Eustis. "These four shows together are a lightning-lit look at the past and future of our sprawling continent."
"Last year, we tested the idea of creating a new way for us to respond to artists and audience by creating the Public LAB. Today, as we jump into the second year of Public LAB, we're thrilled to see that the model works for artists to develop new work and for our audiences to see more work at The Public for only ten bucks," said Public Theater Associate Artistic Director Mandy Hackett. "We're excited to welcome such a great range of exceptionally talented writers to Public LAB this year and to watch the program continue to grow."
"The great thing about co-presenting Public LAB is the company we get to keep. Your friends' high standards elevate your own," said LAByrinth Theater Company Co-Artistic & Executive Director John Gould Rubin. "This program has established a sputnik standard. We're better artists for being part of it."
2009 Public LAB Season at The Public Theater:
TALES OF AN URBAN INDIAN (U.S. Premiere)
A program of The Public Theater's Native Theater Initiative
February 20 - March 15
By Darrell Dennis (Shuswap)
Directed by Herbie Barnes (Ojibway)
Acclaimed Canadian writer and performer Darrell Dennis tells the semi-autobiographical tale of a young Indian man, Simon Douglas. From living life on the "Rez" to navigating the mean streets of Vancouver's east side, Dennis weaves a funny and stirring story of identity, discovery, choice and self-respect. A hit from The Public's inaugural Native Theater Festival, this one-man show returns to make its U.S. premiere following a Canadian tour and two nominations for the Dora Mavor Award, the highest theatrical honor in Canada.
KNIVES AND OTHER SHARP OBJECTS (World Premiere)
March 27 - April 19
By Raúl Castillo
Directed by Felix Solis
Co-produced with LAByrinth Theater Company
Cultures collide in Texas when two Latina sisters are shipped off to live with their more well-heeled family. A poignant story of family, coming of age, and the meaning of home. South Texan writer/actor Raúl Castillo is a member of The Public's inaugural Emerging Writers Group and LAByrinth Theater Company.
BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON: The Concert Version (NY Premiere)
May 5 - 24
Written by Alex Timbers
Music and Lyrics by Michael Friedman
A collaboration between Center Theater Group and The Public Theater
In association with Les Freres Corbusier
