Maguire's Collage Play Abandon Opens at La MaMa, 10/22

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La MaMa E.T.C., in association with Creation Production Company, will present Abandon, a narrative collage play written and directed by Obie Award-winner Matthew Maguire.  The show will begin performances on Thursday, October 19 and opening on Sunday, October 22 at La MaMa E.T.C. (74A East 4th Street).

The show, which features an original score by Andrew Ingkavet and video projections by Zbigniew Bzymek, based on the collages of Matthew Maguire, "tells the story of Helena- a young woman in crisis, terrified to love.  When Helena's sister, Marguerite, forces her to confront her fear, will she be saved or destroyed?," state production notes.

"Matthew Maguire began working theatrically with collage at La MaMa in 1977 with The Seven Deadly Elements, based on the collage novel by Max Ernst. Maguire made his last collage play in 1986 before moving onto more linear, dialogue-based work.  With Abandon, Maguire has merged the two forms into a new hybrid theatrical event: the narrative collage play.  He's offering the play as a gift to Ellen Stewart."

Starring Jeff Barry, Victoire Charles, Alexis McGuinness, Genevieve Odaba, and Michael Ryan, Abandon features scenic design by Michael Casselli, and lighting design by Laura Mroczkowski.

The playing schedule for Abandon will be Thursdays through Sundays at 8:00 pm and Sundays at 2:30 pm.  Abandon runs through November 5, 2006.  Tickets are $15, and can be purchased in person at the box office, by phone at (212) 475-7710 or online at www.lamama.org.  Visit www.creationproduction.org for more information.