After Paris Premiere, New Play BLACK GARDEN Opens At The Tank

New work by an international group of New York City artists,"Black Garden", which made its world premiere in Paris, France, in September at the Théâtre de l'Opprimé, will perform its North American premiere at The Tank NYC this February. The play, written by Gordon Penn ("Into The Zone") and directed/produced by Arthur Makaryan (2017-18 Juilliard Opera Directing Fellow) performs February 6, 7, 13, 14 at 8pm and February 9 & 16 at 3pm.

"Black Garden" weaves together divergent stories of civilians, soldiers and politicians. Two lovers struggle to find each other through the fog of amnesia. A pacifist Army officer is imprisoned and accused of espionage. Corrupt presidents on opposing sides put their political survival over the fates of people. Diaspora Armenians cement this theatrical collage as they search for love and question identity.

With a dialogue that is both violent and peppered with cynicism (SYMA News, Paris), two actors, Alex Marz (Othello: The Remix) and Tamara Sevunts (Daybreak), perform all the parts, transforming swiftly and obviously in a mad dash to illustrate The Remains of a never-ending war.

Inspired by real historical events in Nagorno-Karabakh, an autonomous Armenian enclave in Azerbaijan, where over 30,000 people were killed between 1988-1994, "Black Garden" reopens the dialogue on a war little reported on in the international arena.

Set and lights by Kelvin Pater, costumes by Nina Vartanian, and sound design by Jacob Sachs-Mishalanie. Fight choreography by Robert Najarian, choreography by Kristen Brooks-Sandler and dramaturgy by Elizagrace Madrone.

Tickets for performances are available online at: www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4047768

Additional support to the production was provided by the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU).

"Black Garden" presented by THE TANK, a home for emerging artists.

312 West 36th Street, 1st Floor, New York, NY 10018-6494; Phone: 212.563.6269; www.thetanknyc.org/calendar