RedLeaf Theatre Co. to Present AS SPARKS FLY UPWARDS

RedLeaf Theatre Co. presents As Sparks Fly Upwards, a new work written by Charlie Biscotto and directed by Tim Cusack, from April 14th-24th at the Access Theater's Gallery Space in Lower Manhattan. This Equity Approved Showcase will be participating in the New York Innovative Theater Awards.

As Sparks Fly Upwards consists of nine short plays exploring death and the afterlife. Set across heaven, hell, and everywhere in between as a man comes face-to-face with his impending demise, the work explores what we love and hate about life and the hereafter, and what we may have done to deserve it.

Tim Cusack's direction takes the audience on a dematerialized "Stations Of the Cross" tour of the Gallery Space, playing with perspective and movement to bring together nine unique stories across seven different worlds. The roles will be presented in ensemble by Lindsey Carter, Julia Rae Garber, Kendall H. Lloyd, James Arthur M., Sarah Murdoch, and Vishal Vaidya*, with scenic and lighting design by Zoey Russo and sound design by Taylor J. Williams.

Tim Cusack is the artistic director and co-founder of Theatre Askew. He conceived, co-adapted, co-directed, choreographed, and appeared as Caligula in the six-part serial adaptation I, Claudius Live, for which Next magazine named him one of its "Future Legends" in 2006. In 2007, he directed "The Bed" and "Camera Obscura," two segments of the OBIE-winning site-specific performances East and West Village Fragments for Peculiar Works Project (PWP). For his work with both companies, NYTheatre.com named him a "Person of the Year," and in December of 2014, he was named to the Indy Theater Hall of Fame. He most recently directed and dramaturged Raquel Cion's alt cabaret show Me & Mr. Jones, My Intimate Relationship with David Bowie, currently performing at The Slipper Room. He has a BFA in Theatre from NYU/TSOA and an MA in Theatre from Hunter College, where he was a Vera Roberts Fellow and where he is currently an adjunct instructor. He is an associate curator at the Clyde Fitch Report, to which he contributes the monthly Culture Askew column.

Charlie Biscotto is the artistic director and co-founder of RedLeaf Theatre Co. His plays have been produced in New York at Under St. Marks (Red Leaf Theatre Co.'s Raise Me Up), the Alchemical Theatre Lab (Tin Lily Productions' choose.), and The Secret Theatre (co-adaptation of Tin Lily's Woyzeck: The Endless Cycle), and in Los Angeles at The Complex (Amplified Theatre Co.'s #shakespeareisdead). His shorter works, including early drafts of pieces from As Sparks Fly Upwards, have been produced by Hunter College's Graduate Theatre Club and The Factory. He has a BA in Theatre from American University and an MA in Theatre from Hunter College.

Performances will be Thursday, April 14th; Friday, April 15th; Saturday, April 16th; Thursday, April 21st; Friday, April 22nd; and Saturday, April 23rd at 8 p.m. as well as Saturday, April 16th at 3 p.m. and Sunday, April 24th at 6 p.m. Tickets will be $18 and are available at redleaftheatre.com/tickets. The Access Theatre is located at 380 Broadway in Manhattan. Press and ticketing inquiries should be directed to charlie@redleaftheatre.com.

*-denotes membership in Actors' Equity.