BWW Takes a First Look at the World Premiere of THE MAIDS, by José Rivera

INTAR will kick off the 2016-'17 Season tonight with the world premiere of THE MAIDS by José Rivera, adapted from the play by Jean Genet. Daniel Irizarry directs a cast that features Laura Butler Rivera, Daniel Irizarry, Charlie Munn, Casey Robinson, and Folami Williams with Special Appearance by José Rivera (September 29 to October 9th only).

THE MAIDS by José Rivera is presented in association with One-Eighth Theater (founded by its Artistic Directors Daniel Irizarry and Laura Butler Rivera), which is continuing its residency at INTAR Theatre. THE MAIDS was developed, in part, with assistance from the Orchard Project, a program of The Exchange (Ari Edelson, Artistic Director Dean Strober, Executive Director, www.exchangenyc.org).

This is the world premiere of Oscar nominated writer Jose Rivera's adaptation of Jean Genet's classic The Maids, transported to Vieques Island, 1941, the eve of the U.S. military's invasion. Two maids, sisters Monique and Yvette, dream of liberating the island -- and themselves -- from La Doña, mistress of the largest sugar plantation on Vieques. Rituals are enacted, roles are reversed, identities become fluid, bombs fall, poison is consumed, genders collide, and a psycho-sexual drama is unleashed as the trio struggles with the meaning of power, sisterhood, and freedom. The Maids will have scenic design by Jorge Dieppa, lighting design by Lucrecia Briceno, costume design by Meghan Healey, and sound design by Marcelo Añez.

"The scope of artists who have worked at INTAR represents the finest Latin-American voices working in the American theatre. Jose Rivera's adaptation of The Maids by Genet, directed by Daniel Irizarry, continues that tradition. This project is the collaborative effort of two extraordinary artists with very different theatrical aesthetics, and it brings a very current and personal point of view to a classic piece of theatre." said Mr. Moreno.

José Rivera is a recipient of two Obie Awards for playwriting for Marisol and References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot, both produced by The Public Theatre. His plays Cloud Tectonics (Playwrights Horizons), Boleros for the Disenchanted (Yale Rep), Sueño (Manhattan Class Company), Sonnets for an Old Century (The Barrow Group), School of the Americas (Public Theatre), Massacre (Sing to Your Children) (Rattlestick), Brainpeople (ACT, San Francisco), Adoration of the Old Woman (INTAR), and The House of Ramon Iglesia (EST), have been produced across the country and around the world. Another Word for Beauty, with music by Hector Buitrago, premiered in 2016 at the Goodman Theatre in a co-production with The Civilians. Rivera's screenplay for The Motorcycle Diaries was nominated for a Best Adapted Screenplay Academy Award in 2005. Also nominated for a BAFTA and a Writers Guild Award, The Motorcycle Diaries won top writing awards in Spain and Argentina. His film On the Road premiered at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. His film Trade was the first film to premiere at the United Nations. Current television projects include a 10-hour series for HBO tentatively known as "Latino Roots." His next film projects will be a biography of famed baseball player Roberto Clemente for Legendary Films and a film about a Shakespeare company directed by and co-written with actor Tom Hanks.

Daniel Irizarry is an international director, actor, and professor based in NYC. Currently a Visiting Assistant Professor at Bilkent University in Ankara, Turkey and an Artistic director of One­Eighth Theater in NYC. Recently directed and conceptualized Mouthgasm Part 1 at Bilkent University and METU in Cyprus written by Matthew Paul Olmos, David Koteles, Julia Pearlstein and Laura Butler Rivera. In NYC he directed and performed in the critically acclaimed production Teach Teacher Teachest loosely based on Eugene Ionesco's The Lesson written by David Koteles; and in UBU text by Adam Szymkowicz (Time Out New York Critics Pick); At Folkwang University and MASCHINENHAUS Essen, Germany he directed An Italian Straw Hat by Eugene Labiche. Directed and performed in Cho H Choand Woyzeckat Mabou Mines RAP 2008 and 2010. At BAM, he played The Dentist in Little Shop of Horror Sing Along Director's Cut. At The MET performed in Benvenuto Cellini and Faust directed by Andrei Serban. Performed as The Monkey in Kevin Augustine and Lone Wolf Tribe's 'Bride'. With Windmill Factory, performed Castle of Shadows in Cartagena, Colombia. In Berlin, performed The Constant Prince by Calderón de la Barca directed by his mentor NikyWolcz. More - www.danielirizarry.org

INTAR, one of the United States' longest running Latino theatres producing in English, works to:

Ø Nurture the professional development of Latino theater artists;

Ø Produce bold, innovative, artistically significant plays that reflect diverse perspectives;

Ø Make accessible the diversity inherent in America's cultural heritage through an integrated program of workshops, productions of works-in-progress, and mainstage productions. INTAR brings to the public vital and energetic voices of emerging and accomplished Latino theater professionals, giving expression to the diversity and depth of today's Latino-American community.

One-Eighth Theater, in residency at INTAR, creates new, bold, international theater. Founded in 2008 by Artistic Directors Daniel Irizarry and Laura Butler Rivera, One- Eighth is inspired by Hemingway's Iceberg Theory. It's the alluring idea that some things are better left unexplained or open to interpretation. The tip of an iceberg is only one-eighth of what's there, so much more lies beneath the surface. This idea of abstract possibilities is applied to all things One Eighth. From participating in soloNOVA's theater festival to performing at IRT, from two Mabou Mines residencies to creating an original piece at Bilkent University with Turkish actors, One-Eighth is constantly pushing theatrical boundaries. Japan, United Kingdom, Lithuania, Germany, Turkey, Romania, Korea, Puerto Rico, New York City - One-Eighth also travels the world offering workshops and sharing their theatrical pieces. One-Eighth currently has a four-year long residency at INTAR. For more, visit oneeighth.org.

Performances will be TONIGHT though October 23rd only: Thursday through Saturday evenings at 8PM, Sunday at 5PM. Performances will take place at INTAR's theater space (500 West 52nd Street, at Tenth Avenue, on the 4th Floor).

Tickets for all performances will be only $25 and may be purchased at www.intartheatre.org or by calling 212/352-3101.

Photo Credit: Carol Rosegg.