It's been a while since I've updated you. I didn't get a chance to do my yearly pictures and recap from Take Ten, but I haven't forgotten. I will do that at a later time. We are very proud of all the artists we had this year and I want a blog post primarily focusing on them. The winner of Take Ten, Alisha Espinosa, will be having a workshop with us in the fall (it's a pretty gripping play, I've already read it) and we will focus more on her and all the other participants that graced our stage (a great new venue too!) later on.
For now, I want to focus on Detainee, the full length production going up in just a few weeks. Detainee is a smart political thriller, written by Sam Graber, a writer who has participated in every one of our one act festivals even though he's from across the country. We were thrilled to be able to produce something longer of his. It's directed by our very own Samantha Manas and it's going to be a heck of a show. Here's the info
Detainee
Written by Sam Graber
Directed by Samantha Lee Manas
Produced by Jasmine Brown & Graydon Gund
July 20th-22nd at 7:30pm
July 23rd at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
July 24th at 2:30pm
The Fourth Street Theater
83 E 4th Street (between Cooper Square and 2nd Ave)
New York, NY
Starring:
Francesca Ferrara*
Niceto Darcey Festin
Galway McCullough*
Roxy Reynolds
Angie Tennant*
Stage Manager: Paulina Ruiz
*appearing courtesy of Actor's Equity Association
Tickets: $18 at the door and on Brown Paper Tickets!
I'm particularly excited by this play, not just because of the quality of writing, acting and directing and by the issues it is raising but types of female characters this story is showcasing. It's truly an important piece and I hope you all join us there.
AND it's not too late to support the play! Please donate to our indiegogo and help us fund this thing so YOU can continue to enjoy the quality work we put out by the amazing up and coming artists. There's only a few days left, so please click the link and donate!
Show us your support!
Finally, as a little taste, I thought I'd give you a teaser about the story.
Detainee is a political thriller about one woman balancing devotion to family against devotion to country.
Lindsey is a middle-aged college professor who drives a middle-aged van and lives in a middle-aged house. She's a middle-aged Mom with a middle-aged husband. She also has middle-aged problems, mostly stemming from her wayward teenage daughter, with whom she has a strained relationship.
Outside of home, Lindsey has another problem. The United States is reeling from a string of domestic bomb threats. But when the threats turn real, and the first bomb explodes, Lindsey is asked to return to her former identity. And ultimately Lindsey must choose between allegiance to country and the sanctity of her home.
At the core of Detainee is a family story which focuses on an individual torn between allegiance to country and regard for family. Isn’t the individual working on behalf of the state also an individual? What is that life like? What is impact on someone shuttling between a terrorist detainment center and home? When does the allegiance end?
Detainee is a play about a decision -- whether or not to torture a U.S. citizen.
Hope you enjoy!
Jasmine
