THE FUTURE IS NOT WHAT IT WAS Opens 1/21 at Soho Rep's Walkerspace

The inaugural production of the Kindling Theater Company-the world premiere of The Future Is Not What It Was, written by Michael Rabe and directed by Jay Stull-begins tonight, Saturday, January 12 at 8pm. The production plays at Soho Rep's Walkerspace, 46 Walker Street. The opening night is set for Monday, January 21 at 8pm.

A dark comedy set in a world not unlike our own, where society's moral compasses have been broken, the church has lost its currency, and no one seems to have any answers, The Future Is Not What It Was follows roommates Sean and Tom-rivals for the affection of a beautiful girl down the hall who knows just which buttons to push to play them off each other. As they struggle for her affection, the play wonders if we can still find connection in a world so wholly lost and perpetually distracted and whether, moreover, we can ever find our long way home, if such a place still even exists.

The cast of The Future Is Not What It Was is Katie Blake, Maryam Hassouni (International Emmy Award for Best Actress for "Offers"), Maya Kazan (Noah Baumbach's Frances Ha), Eddie Liu, Rhett Owen, and Michael Rabe.

Michael Rabe is a roaming playwright and actor currently living in Brooklyn. He studied playwriting under Charlotte Meehan at Wheaton College and acting with William Esper. He owes a big thank you to Jose Rivera and the writing group he leads.

Jay Stull is a Brooklyn based playwright, director, and dramaturg. He is an Emerging Artist in Residence this season at the Gym at Judson and was Artist in Residence at The Culture Project's IMPACT 2012 Festival. He serves as the Literary Manager of The Amoralists Theatre Company, is the curator of the Amoralab, and is a member of the Steering Committee of the Literary Wing at the Lark Play Development Center. His work with The Civilians helped to develop the Occupy Your Mind Project, an interactive, online database of performed monologues based on interviews conducted with members of the Occupy Movement. He studied acting at the William Esper Studio, ensemble work at the LAByrinth Theater Company, and clown at The Barrow Group. He is a member of the performance collective, Bastard Playground, which is hosted by the Drama League. A.B. Bowdoin College.

The scenic design for The Future Is Not What It Was is by George Hoffman and Greg Kozatek and; costume design is by Cat Hunt; lighting design is by Nick Houfek; sound design is by Slats Toole. The production stage manager is Tori Sheehan; the assistant director is Jerry Lieblich. The Future Is Not What It Was is produced by the Kindling Theater Company, with the generous support of David Richenthal and the Richenthal Foundation.

Kindling Theater Company endeavors to produce plays by theater artists who are at the very outset of their careers in New York City. We believe that theater artists learn best from the presence of an audience, the rigors of a production run, and the collaboration among designers that necessarily attends any stage production. Public resources for dramatic work are small and shrinking while private grant programs typically (and justifiably) reward artists who already have a well-developed craft. Artists at the outset of their careers in the theater are at once the most in need of and the least likely to receive resources for development and production. Kindling Theater Company aims to remedy this discrepancy and bridge the gap.

The Future Is Not What It Was plays Thursday - Saturday and Monday at 8pm, and Sunday at 2pm, through February 2. Tickets are $18 and available by phoning 800 838-3006 or by visiting kindling.brownpapertickets.com.

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