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Ndiaye's Hilda Plays off-Broadway Nov. 11-Dec. 11

By: Aug. 05, 2005
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The Laura Pels International Foundation will present the Off-Broadway premiere of Hilda, a new play from renowned French novelist Marie Ndiaye.  As part of the Act French Festival, it will begin previews at Theater A at 59E59 Theaters (59 E. 59th St., between Park and Madison Avenues) on Friday, November 11th for a limited engagement through December 11th; opening night is November 15th at 7 PM.

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The show comes to New York directly after a run at the Studio Theater in Washington, D.C.  Hilda will be directed by Carey Perloff with an English translation by Erika Rundle.  It "tells the haunting story of an upper-class woman's consuming obsession with the woman she hires to care for her children.  With stark cinematic undertones, Hilda is a potent and provocative look at the seductiveness of control," state production notes.  Hilda is the first play written by Ndiaye; she is "considered one of the most dynamic new voices in French literature, and is one of only two women ever admitted to the Comédie-Française." The show stars Ellen Karas, Michael Earle and Brandy Burre, and features scenic design by Donald Eastman; lighting design by Nancy Schertler; costumes by David F. Draper; and sound design by Cliff Caruthers.  Original music is composed by David Lang and dramaturgy is by Danielle Mages Amato.

Hilda was originally produced at Théâtre de l'Atelier, Paris in 2002.  It was awarded the Grand Prix de la Critique 2001-2002.  In 2003, in a translation commissioned by Laura Pels, Hilda was presented at the Public Theater in the New Works Now! festival of readings, directed by Jo Bonney.  In January 2005, Hilda had its American premiere in a co-production with American Conservatory Theater directed by Perloff at the Zeum Theater in San Francisco. With support from the Laura Pels International Foundation, Perloff will also direct the next American production, at the Studio Theatre in Washington, DC from October 5-November 6, 2005.

At 17, Ndiaye published her first novel, Quant as riche avenir (As for the Rich Future).  Since then she has written six others, including Comédie Classique, a 100-page novel comprised of a single sentence; Rosie Carpe, awarded the Prix Femina in 2001, and a collection of short stories. Plays written since Hilda include Providence (2001), Les Serpents (2004) and Papa Doit Manger (Father Has to Eat, 2003) now in the repertory of the Comédie-Française, the first piece by a contemporary author to be admitted in 20 years, and only the second play written by a woman to be so embraced since the company was established in 1680.

"The Laura Pels International Foundation, based in New York, was created in 1996 to provide production support for the cultural exchange of outstanding theater between North America and Europe. Its mission is to encourage the production of classic works for foreign audiences both French and English, including great works of the 20th century; to foster the creation, development and production of new works by recognized contemporary playwrights; and to catalyze cultural exchange by commissioning translations.

Hilda marks the New York producing debut of Laura Pels and her Foundation.  A long-term board member of the Roundabout Theater, which named their Off Broadway space on West 46th Street in her honor, Ms. Pels also owns and operates the Théâtre de l'Atelier in Paris, where Hilda originated.  One of New York's leading benefactors of the theater, Ms. Pels' commitment to theater caused Roundabout Theater Artistic Director Tom Haimes to declare, 'Should a project bear Laura Pels' name, it will undoubtedly represent the pinnacle of taste and artistry in the theater.'"

The performance schedule is Tuesday at 7:00 PM; Wednesday - Friday at 8:00 PM; Saturday at 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM; Sunday at 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM.  Tickets are $45. Tickets to Hilda are available by calling Ticket Central at 212-279-4200, online at www.ticketcentral.com.







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