Matrix Theatre to Premiere AGUA DE LUNA

agua de luna (psalms for the rouge), the world premiere of a bilingual collaboration with Obie Award-winning playwright Caridad Svich, opens at Matrix Theatre on Friday, February 26 and runs through Sunday, March 20. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 3 pm. All productions are presented at Matrix Theatre Company, located at 2730 Bagley in the heart of Detroit's Mexicantown. Ticket prices range from $15 to $20. Group rates are available for most shows. For further information or to order tickets, go to www.matrixtheatre.org, or call 313 967 0599.

The world premiere production traces the personal lives of three couples as their lives intertwine with the life of Teresa de Los Angeles, a 108-year-old woman. Written in close-up snapshots of the ache, hunger, passion, hope, and missed connections amongst this community of individuals, it is a story of those often "left behind," wanting the possibility of a better life. It's about surviving, taking stock in memories, and believing in the everyday magic that is possible in all of our lives.

"Bringing a brand new play to life for the first time on a stage is a special experience and privilege," said director Sherrine Azab. "It is doubly so with the play agua de luna (psalms for the rouge) because it was inspired by Southwest Detroit--the place I live and where it will be performed, by a playwright I truly admire and respect. I love working with the large, diverse, and fierce cast and company of designers we've assembled to actualize Caridad's text and characters. I'm really excited to show this work to the community and Matrix audience. I hope people will come to the show and have an experience that is both familiar and mythical."

Matrix Theatre's Artistic Director, Megan Buckley-Ball shared, "This production is very special for us. Commissioning Caridad, an internationally renowned, Obie award-winning playwright, to create a script that truly reflects the spirit of Southwest Detroit as part of our 25th Anniversary season has been a wonderfully unique experience. Most of the actors in the production have ties to Southwest Detroit, and you can feel their passion for it shining through in their

performances. Justino Solis, for example, was not only raised in Southwest, but is also a Matrix Teen Company alumnus." She went on to explain that Svich made multiple visits to Detroit, not only to meet with community members for plot and character inspiration, but also to work with the Matrix Teen Company and Writer's Circle, providing advice to the aspiring playwrights.

Local talent comprises the ensemble of agua de luna (psalms for the rouge), featuring Samer Ajluni, Torri Lynn Ashford, Amy Choudhury Martin, Candace P. Hale, Bethany Hedden, Chris Jakob, Myrna Segura, and Justino Solis. The production also features the design work of Christina Killmar, Gwen Lindsay, Billy Mark, Dorothy Melander-Dayton, and Amy Schneider, and dramaturgy by Emily Mendelsohn. The production stage manager is Maddy Rager.

agua de luna (psalms for the rouge) is made possible in part by grants from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the Michigan Humanities Council, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. agua de luna (psalms for the rouge) is a part of Matrix Theatre Company's D*Versity initiative. D*Versity is made possible in part by a grant from the Michigan Humanities Council, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this project do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities of Michigan Humanities Council.

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