Vortex Theater Company will present the premiere of a new adaptation of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's iconic novel entitled In Delirium: after the sorrows of young werther, adapted and created for the stage by Gisela Cardenas and Joshua Randall. Performances will begin at the Sanford Meisner Theater, 164 Eleventh Avenue (between 22nd and 23rd Streets) on Friday, March 31. The official opening night is set for Monday, April 3 at 8:00 p.m. Performances will run through Sunday, April 23.
"When it was first published in Germany, in 1774, Goethe's
The Sorrows of Young Werther created a sensation and made its author one of the first literary celebrities. Banned and condemned, but embraced—especially by the young—it has continued to captivate," acccording to press notes. "The Vortex will add their own modern day twist to this classic text."
In Delirium tells the story of Werther, a tormented young man "seeking the infinite" in an art he cannot master and a woman he cannot have; he is ultimately driven to a tragic end. "Goethe was only 24 when he wrote Werther and it seized the hearts of men around the world. Shortly after its publication, there were thousands of reports of young men using the same method as Werther to commit suicide—resulting in a ban of the book in several countries. The term 'Werther effect' has been used in scientific literature to designate copycat suicides. This tragic tale may be viewed as a celebration of unfettered emotion or as a mercilessly accurate portrait of a man whose dedication to pure feeling turns him into a monster "
The show will feature set design by Jian Jung; costume design by Oana Botez-Ban; lighting design by Lucrecia Briceno; and sound design by John Ivy.
Vortex Theater Company has been in residence at the Sanford Meisner Theater since 1983 and is dedicated to creating and producing provocative and well-executed theatrical experiences for a contemporary audience. Under new management, as of January 2005, the Vortex has since produced
LEARegardless; Bathsheba Doran's adaptation of Maurice Maeterlinkck's
The Blind; A. Rey Pamatmat's
Deviant; Aeschylus'
Agamemnon; and in association with the Consulate General of the Netherland's hosted the American premiere of Alex van Warmerdam's
The Northern Quarter. For
In Delirium, the company has partnered with the Manhattan division of Borders Bookstores to promote the run with in-store promotions and marketing.
The complete performance schedule for
In Delirium: after the sorrows of young werther will be: Thursdays through Saturdays at 8:00 p.m and Sundays at 5:00 p.m. The opening night performance will be on Monday, April 3 at 8:00 p.m. All tickets will be $15.00. TDF vouchers are accepted. Tickets for all performances will be available through TheaterMania by calling 212-352-3101 (or online at
www.TheaterMania.com). Visit
www.vortextheater.com for more information.
