Altruistic Theatre Company COMMITTED Plays Final Performance on Saturday

The Altruistic Theatre Company, an organization dedicated to social change, presents Committed - a fictionalized account of the last two days of the Dutch filmmaker Theo Van Gogh. The play is written by Natalie Menna and directed by Brock Harris Hill.

Produced by the Altruistic Theatre Company in conjunction with the Theatre at the 14th Street Y, 344 E 14th St, New York City, Committed closes this Saturday: September 23 @ 7:30PM. Run time: 90 Minutes; No Intermission; Tickets: $18 at 14streety.secure.force.com/ticket#details_a0S36000004SimNEAS.

Van Gogh worked with the Somali-born writer and politician Ayaan Hirsi Ali to produce the short film, Submission (2004), which exposed the treatment of women, and resulted in an outrage from the Dutch Muslim community.

He was murdered in November of 2004.

The play explores the inevitable tragedy when artistic radical temperament collides with religious and political realities. Can friendship, family, or love save Theo from his biggest threat - himself?"

The cast features Brad J. Fryman, Ivette Dumeng, Francisco Solorzano, and Philip Schneider. The creative team includes: Lighting design: Benjamin Ehrenreich; Costume design: Ariel Pellman; Sound design: Jacob Subotnick; Assistant director: Anna Hogan; and Stage Manager: Charles Casano.

Altruistic Theatre Company creates art that provides a guiding voice, one that is meaningful as well as entertaining. We maintain a nurturing environment for artists, to produce and develop new works of theater. We foster good in our community, not only in discussing social issues but actively working off-stage to promote social change.

Natalie Menna is an award-winning playwright and actress living in downtown Brooklyn. A native New Yorker, she recently won Outstanding Overall Production of a Play and Best Actor for her full-length drama Committed at Planet Connections Theatre Festivity 2015. Committed received six nominations, including Outstanding Production of a Staged Reading, Outstanding Playwright For A New Play in a Reading, Best Director, Best Actress, and Two Nominations for Best Actor.

She was nominated for Outstanding Writer for her full-length comedy ZEN A.M. in Planet Connections Theatre Festivity 2014. Her solo show ROBERTA! was featured in United Solo Theatre Festival, Theatre Row, in November 2014. Select previous awards include The Nettie Award for Best Solo Show for her play i-POD in the Network One-Act Festival, and Best Actress for i-POD in The Midtown International Theatre Festival.

Roberta, i-POD, and Zen A.M. were recently published by indietheaternow.com and are available to purchase.

A club kid at heart.

Brock H. Hill is a New York-based freelance theater director who is always on the search to find ways to help make change happen through art. Brock is artistic director of the Altruistic Theatre Company and Producing Artistic Director of Planet Connections Theatre Festivity. Altruistic Theater Company works with non-profit organizations to help get its message out. The company also became known for their series of one-act theater festivals, the Bare-Knuckle Theater Festivals. Aside from his own company, Brock strives to work with other artists whenever possible. He has worked extensively with the Tongue-in-Cheek Theater and has directed works in many New York Theater festivals (including Planet Connections). A taste of these productions include: Civilization! By Maximilian Avery Clark in the Planet Connections Theatre Festivity, Choose Your Grown Adventure by Jennifer Fedor and Brock Hill at Theater for a New City's Dream Up Festival, and the world premiere of the Books on Tape by William Missouri Downs at fringeNYC.