New York theatre companies Parity Productions and New Perspectives Theatre Company have announced they are teaming to produce the world premiere of She Calls Me Firefly, a new American play by Teresa Lotz, directed by Ludovica Villar-Hauser. The play will premiere in June at the SoHo Playhouse.
It's Nickel Beer Night at Freddie's Place. Ken has come to drown his sorrows, but no amount of alcohol can wash away the pain of his broken relationship with Levi, nor the dark and difficult secrets of his past. As you enter Freddie's you will instantly be transported from New York City streets to a Kentucky dive bar. Pull up a stool, grab a drink, and find yourself immersed in the searing world of She Calls Me Firefly.
"At its core, She Calls Me Firefly is about the importance of the tenacity of the human spirit-how even though we can be handed a terrible lot in life, we are essentially programmed toward good and will always work to triumph over darkness," says playwright
Teresa Lotz. She Calls Me Firefly creates a new and refreshing way to relate a story of dark subject matter. Uniquely progressive in its storytelling, the play moves fluidly from the past to the present and back again. At points, there are multiple realities occurring in quick succession as we witness Ken grappling with his past so that he can look forward to healing and a better life. Other characters include Ken's troubled mother, Veronica, and Freddie, the wisecracking (and deeply wise) bartender who befriends Ken.
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Teresa Lotz exemplifies what the NPTC's Women's Work Project is designed to support-a fresh voice telling stories largely missing from the American canon. Tackling a taboo subject in an innovative style, Lotz challenges us to dig beneath the cliches to find an enduring strength in the human spirit," says dramaturg and New Perspectives Theatre Company Artistic Director,
Melody Brooks.
"For subject matter that would often be portrayed in a dark manner, this is ultimately a story that is filled with ingenuity, humor, light and, most importantly, hope for all its characters," says director and Artistic Director of Parity Productions,
Ludovica Villar-Hauser.
She Calls Me Firefly is a proud partner of NYC Pride. Heritage of Pride is a nonprofit organization that plans and produces New York City's official LGBT Pride events each year to commemorate the Stonewall Riots of 1969 - the beginning of the modern Gay Rights movement. By producing LGBTQIA+ Pride events that inspire, educate, commemorate, and celebrate our diverse community, Heritage of Pride works toward a future without discrimination where all people have equal rights under the law.
She Calls Me Firefly will play at the SoHo Playhouse (15 Vandam Street, New York NY 10013), running June 6th through June 23rd on Monday and Wednesday-Saturday. Pre-show band 7pm, Performance 7:30pm. Tickets ($18 students/seniors, $25 regular, $50 VIP) will be available for purchase here.
The cast features
Emily Batsford,
Daniel Burns,
Paula Ewin, and
Sean Hudock. Production Design is by
Meganne George. Lighting Design is by
Deborah Constantine. Sound Design is by
Janie Bullard.
Melody Brooks is Dramaturg.
Firefly had its first public reading at New York University in November 2013, directed by Parity's Artistic Director,
Ludovica Villar-Hauser, and the second reading in November 2014 as part of
Cherry Lane Theatre's TONGUES reading series. It was produced as a work-in-progress by Parity Productions and New Perspectives Theatre Company in Spring 2015 to critical and audience acclaim at New Perspectives Studio. Most recently Parity Productions hosted two public readings of the new script in June 2017 as part of a Pride Week Celebration at SoHo Playhouse and Jimmy's No. 43.
New Perspectives was founded in 1991 as a multi-racial ensemble dedicated to using theatre as an agent for positive social change. Their mission is to develop and present new plays and playwrights-particularly women and people of color, present classic plays in a style
that sheds new light on our lives and work, and present theatre to communities in need.
http://www.newperspectivestheatre.org/
Parity Productions is a producer of new theatrical work that gives voice to individuals who rebel against their marginalized place in society. As part of their unique dual art and advocacy mission, Parity always ensures they fill at least 50% of the creative roles on our productions-directors, playwrights, and designers-with women and/or trans and gender nonconforming artists, and they maintain several advocacy initiatives to encourage the industry to do the same.
http://www.parityproductions.org/
The SoHo Playhouse is one of New York City's original Off-Broadway houses. The SoHo Playhouse stands on land that was once Richmond Hill, Aaron Burr's estate, a colonial mansion that served as headquarters for George Washington. After becoming The Huron Club, Tammany Hall's social club, the main floor was transformed into a theater in the 1920's.
http://www.sohoplayhouse.com/
