Diverging Elements Theatre Co. & New York Authors to Present IN 4D!

Up-and-coming theatre company Diverging Elements will present its first of monthly "Stories in 4D" presentations at the newly-opened Upper West Side Book Culture.

"Stories in 4D" is an interactive multimedia storytelling experience with performances, talkbacks and hands-on crafts individually created to promote and explore stories written and illustrated by local New York authors and artists.

Diverging Elements Theatre Co. and Book Culture will present their first collaboration, Over and Under the Snow, written by Kate Messner and with art by Christopher Silas Neal. Over and Under the Snow takes readers on a cross-country ski trip through the winter woods to discover the secret world of animals living under the snow. As an illustrated book, Over and Under the Snow has received countless glowing reviews and accolades including ALA Notable Book, New York Times Notable Children's Picture Book, New York Times Editors' Choice, Bank Street College of Education Best Book of the Year Reading List selection and a Capitol Choices Final Reading List Selection.

Diverging Elements Theatre Co. is a New York City-based not-for-profit theatre company committed to devising original and culturally diverse stories for the stage by drawing from elements of art, body, literature, nature, history and film. Employing a collaborative ensemble of artists, we aim to provide our audiences with a visceral human experience through mis-en-scene movement and basic narrative in order to spark thought, stimulate discussion and initiate change. Diverging Elements Theatre Co. is comprised of members Sammy Lopez, Daniel Burns, Melissa Jessel and Erin Schmidt.

Kate Messner is a middle school teacher and the author of several books for young readers, including EB White Award-Winning The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z., the Marty McGuire series and the Sea Monster series. Christopher Silas Neal is an award-winning illustrator whose work has been published in a variety of magazines and books and featured on television. He is a regular contributor to the New York Times and shows his art at various galleries nationwide. He currently lives and works in Brooklyn and teaches illustration at Pratt Institute.

"Stories in 4D" will be presented on Thursday, January 22nd at 10am and 1pm and is open to the public. Admission is free and a donation at the door is much appreciated. Book Culture is located at 450 Columbus Ave (between 81st & 82nd Streets).

For more information about "Stories in 4D" and Diverging Elements Theatre Co., visit www.divergingelements.org or www.bookculture.com.