New Play Ankhst Plays Fringe Fest August 12-27

Clarinda Karpov's (The Beguiling of Merlin, Just in Time) play Ankhst which will have its East Coast premiere as part of the ninth annual New York International Fringe Festival/FringeNYC. A NeoNeo Theatre Company production, it will play four performances from August 12th to August 27th at the Soho Playhouse (15 Vandam St.).

Directed by Jonathan Warman (American Fabulous, Versatility), Ankhst "follows the encounter of firebrand feminist archaeologist Alex with the 3,000 year old spirit (or 'ku') of the heretic pharaoh Akhnaton. The first act focuses on the dilemma this presents for Alex—she is already perceived as eccentric by her profession, never mind the problems she faces in a field still dominated by an 'old boys club.' How will 'communing with ghosts' seem, coming from her? The second act takes us through the final days of Akhnaton's life, as seen through the eyes of his brother and co-ruler. In the end both Alex and the ku find redemption in very surprising way," according to production notes.

The show's cast includes Regina Bartkoff as Dr. Alexandra Phillips, William York Hyde as The Ku, and Troy Carson (August 13th only) and Joe Williams (all other performances) as Smenkh-ka-ra, as well as Della Bynum, Izzy Durakovic, Michael Charles Garreans, David Zen Mansley, Dana McCarren, Benjamin C. Sulds and Erika Ward. The play has original music by Mark Nelson and Phyllis Dunne.

"NeoNeo Theatre Company is a troupe of playwrights, directors and actors committed to investigating what it means to be human—and humane—in the 21st century, in productions of works classic and new, musical and non-musical. NeoNeo Theatre Company was represented in last year's FringeNYC festival with the critically acclaimed production of Andru's Head, co-directed by Warman and Mark Dendy."

The performance dates and times for Ankhst are as follows: Saturday, August 13th at 6:00 pm, Sunday, August 14th at 7:30 pm, Friday, Aug 19th at 8:15 pm, and Saturday, August 27th at 2:45 pm. Tickets for Ankhst (and all FringeNYC performances) are $15 and are available by calling 212-279-4488 (in New York) or 1-888-FringeNYC (outside New York). Tickets are also available online at www.FringeNYC.org.