Diverging Elements Theatre Co. Presents A LETTER TO AUNTIE ROSA Today

Diverging Elements Theatre Co. will present the original production, A LETTER TO AUNTIE ROSA, this February as part of its "Stories in 4D" New York City touring series in partnership with Barnes & Noble, Book Culture, and Strand Bookstore.

A LETTER TO AUNTIE ROSA, written by Angelica Cheri, and with original music by Ross Baum and Ben Holtzman of RANGE a cappella, is inspired by the relationship between Rosa Parks and her niece Sheila McCauley-Keys. It captures a pivotal moment in Sheila's life when she realizes the impact her heroic aunt had on American history and society. Through this moment of discovery, Sheila's perspective on her aunt and on our country's history will be forever transformed.

On creating the piece, Sammy Lopez, Producing Artistic Director, says "it has made us eager to know more about who Rosa Parks was as a woman and what gave her that internal strength to refuse to move to the back of the bus. We aim to tell stories that will make younger audiences 'lean in' and want to learn more, and this show is the perfect opportunity."

The production stars Betty Etheredge and features the a cappella talents of Izzie Flores, Angela Travino, and Jeremiah Haley of RANGE a cappella. Direction is by Sammy Lopez with Production Management by Kayliane Burns.

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

RANGE a cappella is a New York City based group founded in 2014. Comprised of artists working in various facets of the entertainment industry ranging (no pun intended) from Atlantic Records to Broadway. Past performances include E! Live from the Red Carpet: Countdown to the 87th Oscars, Sesame Street, Broadway Sings Sara Bareilles, and Live at Radio City Music Hall with Kelly Clarkson. RANGE is devoted to producing completely in house musical arrangements that are sure to rock your world!

Angelica Cheri is a playwright and bookwriter/lyricist. She wrote, directed and produced her first full?length play SOLITAIRE at the age of 16. She received a BA in Theatre from UCLA, an MFA in Playwriting from Columbia University and an MFA in Musical Theatre Writing from New York University. Her thesis play at Columbia, RUBY PLACE NEST ON THE GROUND was workshopped at the Signature Theatre Center in May of 2013 and then produced at the Billie Holiday Theater in the spring of 2014 under the new title THE SEEDS OF ABRAHAM, Part I of her trilogy The Prophet's Cycle. She was mentored by Pulitzer Prize?winning playwright Lynn Nottage. Some of Angelica's other presented work includes a workshop of THE YIN AND THE YANG (Columbia University), SLOW GIN FITS (Fire This Time Festival) and THE STING OF WHITE ROSES, Part II of The Prophet's Cycle (Lark Play Development Center/Fire This Time Festival/Crossroads Theatre Company), workshop production of GUN & POWDER, a musical, (NYU Center for New Musicals). Angelica is also a slam poet a producer of the Obie award?winning Fire This Time Festival.

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 Daniel Burns, Kayliane Burns, Allie Dufford, Melissa Jessel, Sammy Lopez, and Erin Schmidt.

A LETTER TO AUNTIE ROSA will be presented today, February 6 at 2:00PM at Book
Culture (450 Columbus Avenue); Saturday, February 13 at 2PM & 3:30PM at Strand Bookstore (828 Broadway); Saturday, February 20 at 2PM & 3:30PM at Barnes & Noble Union Square (33 East 17 Street). Performances are open to the public. Admission is free and includes a study guide and craft. "Stories in 4D" is made possible by our generous donors.

For more information about "Stories in 4D" and Diverging Elements Theatre Co., visit www.divergingelements.org, or follow on Facebook: facebook.com/divergingelements, Twitter: @DETheatreCo and Instagram: divergingelements #DETheatreCo.