So-fi And Torn Page Announce The Full Line-up For The First Annual (Winter Mini) Festival

So-fi (Co-Founders; Jody Christopherson, Nathan Gebhard, Romy Nordlinger) announce the launch of a new curated festival, for low-fi, multi-disciplinary solo performance, co-produced by, and at Torn Page in Chelsea (435 W 22nd Street, 2nd Floor), a performance space in the historic home of Rip Torn and Geraldine Page. The impetus for this festival was to create an opportunity for touring and local artists, who push the boundaries of multiple forms, to be produced affordably in New York. The majority of box office sales from each performance go directly to artists.

Each performance will seat 25 audience members, in a playing space located up a winding flight of 19th-century stairs, filled with loveseats and armchairs, beneath a crystal chandelier, creating an intimate atmosphere in which to engage with exciting new, and award-winning works. Red wine is available for a $7 donation at all performances.

The 10-Day Festival Includes Nathan Gebhard/ Spaceheater, The Coldharts (Katie Hartman and Nick Ryan), Jody Christopherson, Nico Grelli, Lisa Huberman, Jon Torn and Erika Phoebus

A full evening package consists of, 645pm pre-show cocktails, a 7 pm performance, followed by a wicked interactive beverage interlude, Lady Brewster Will Burn by Erika Phoebus, followed by an 8 pm performance, for a full run time of roughly 2.5 hours. Tickets to individual shows may also be purchased.

Full performance line-up listed below. Advance tickets are $15 for individual shows, $25 for the full evening and are on sale now. Tickets are $20 at the door for individual shows. For tickets and a full festival calendar please visit: https://www.so-fi-festival.com/

So-fi (winter mini) Festival at Torn Page (Dec 11, 2018- Jan 6, 2019):

SAINT EX
by Nathan Gebhard
with live music by Natalia Steinbach
A physical poem that confronts the relationship between artist and muse.

December 11, 12, 18 at 7pm

Runtime: 50 min

Saint Ex confronts the relationship between muse and artist, unravel the love behind Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's "The Little Prince." Created by Spaceheater, Saint Ex combines elements of theatre and dance as it embodies what it's like to be human, to love and to love something so much that it breaks.

Edgar Allan
by The Coldharts
A manic lullabye inspired by the childhood and short stories of Edgar Allan Poe.

December 11, 12, 18 at 8pm
January 5 at 7pm, January 6 at 2pm

Runtime: 55 min

Eleven-year-old Edgar Allan has only one goal: to be the most remarkable boy at Manor House School. He has only one obstacle: Edgar Allan. Created and performed by Katie Hartman & Nick Ryan, In collaboration with Mark Benzel.

Awards: Best Female Performance and Best Show Orlando Fringe, Holdover Edmonton Fringe, Pick of the Fringe Cincinnati Fringe Festival, Audience Choice Award Ithaca Fringe, Encore Performance Minneapolis Fringe

A triumph of storytelling" -Edmonton Journal

"A dark, polished gem" -Winnipeg FreePress

"Katie Hartman plays the loquacious Edgar with gawkish and malevolent glee... Nick Ryan's raspy-voiced turn as Edgar's rival is delightfully odd."-CBC

"Darkly funny and dangerous... Katie Hartman exudes malice even as she beautifully sings her intent."-Global News

Pier Valentino's:Show Without End! (The Final Broadcast)
A Workshop Presentation
By Nico Grelli
Directed by Nidia Medina

December 13, 14 at 7pm

Runtime: 45 min

Is there a tear in your eye, cuz the end is nigh? You're not alone gentle freaks and humble geeks! As the asteroid careens toward our trembling planet, spend your remaining hour of not being cosmic debris with Pier Valentino, on the very last broadcast of Show Without End! Broadcast normally on Mondays and occasional Thursdays after midnight to various public access channels across the Bay Area, and to homes across the country with mighty antennae.

Nico began development on this project with the support of the Grange Hall Cultural Center in Waterbury, VT and will be returning in February to perform the full-length show. Nico's other solo shows include: American Sideshow (Emerging Artists Theatre), Gather Fuel in Vacant Lots (NYU/Tisch). This piece is part of a thematic trilogy, the other two of which are plays: Private Catholic Mixtape '89-'01 and A Priori A Posteriori.

Nidia Media is currently the Associate Producer for Theater for a New Audience and was formerly a Line Producer at The Public Theater and Shakespeare in the Park at The Delacorte Theater, as well as programs, including Public Studio, Mobile Unit, and Public Works.

ST. KILDA
Written and Performed by Jody Christopherson
Directed by Isaac Byrne/ Sound and Foley Design by Andy Evan Cohen with voice-overs featuring Michael de Roos/ Dialect Coaching by Chloe Dirksen

December 13, 14, 19, 21 at 8pm
January 5 at 8:30pm, January 6 at 3:30pm

Runtime: 55 min

After the death of her Grandmother, an American woman travels to an abandoned island off the coast of Scotland and unearths a dark family secret.

St Kilda, uses live foley and a looper to create a foreboding soundscape for a tale of supernatural horror. Instruments include violin bows, bowls of water, cigar box guitars, pie tins full of salt, folk singing and more. Inspired by the 1930 evacuation of Hirta, St Kilda's only inhabitable island and the role that music plays in women's narratives.

Christopherson has been called "a talent to watch, not to mention a pleasure to hear" (Time Out NY) "the ANTITHESIS of the manic pixie dream girl" (Zouch Magazine) and a "Rock Monster" (Brooklyn Rail). Her work has been performed in 28 cities in 6 countries, including Canada, Detroit, New Orleans, Amsterdam and has been compared to Margaret Atwood's writing. Director Isaac Byrne has been awarded 2 New York Innovative Theatre Awards for Outstanding Direction, (The Other Mozart and Investments) as well as the 2018 Planet Connections award for Best Direction, (Rusalka)

"Atmospheric and dreamy, St Kilda is a unique theatrical experience, an uncanny, unsettling story and world of secrets and mystery." -Minnesota Theater Love

"If you like Laurie Anderson, try St Kilda."- Minneapolis Star Tribune

"The most enjoyable evening of theatre we've had in a long time . . . a tribute to what Artaud called the "Alchemy" of the theatre." -Travalanche, New York

THE PRODIGAL VEGAN
Written and Performed by Lisa Huberman, Devising Director Michole Biancosino
Part memoir. Part vegan dinner parts. All Feelings.

December 19, 21 at 7pm

Runtime: 65 min

For most people, salads don't carry a lot of emotional baggage. They provide nutrition. Weight-loss. And maybe a couple of artful Instagram hashtags.

But Lisa does not have a normal relationship to salads.

In The Prodigal Vegan: A Culinary Solo Show, playwright takes her audience on a colorful, comic, interactive culinary journey through her relationship with food. Previously performed at La MaMa and Project Y's WIT Festival.

THE SCIENTIST
by Jon Leon Torn

December 20 at 7pm

Runtime: 1 hour, 40 min with intermisson

A remarkable audio/visual trip into the mind of John C. Lilly: Dolphin researcher, flotation tank pioneer, psychedelic explorer, and interstellar diplomat.

Torn/Page and the estate of John C. Lilly present a workshop reading of The Scientist, a solo performance with music, sound, and images. The Scientist depicts the spiritual and experimental journey of John C. Lilly, one of the most creative and controversial thinkers of the 20th century. His early groundbreaking research on the brain led him to encounter government mind control conspiracies, mind-expanding drugs, sensory deprivation and inner space explorations, and inter-species communication with dolphins, whales, and silicon-based extraterrestrial life forms. Skeptics and believers alike will find food for thought in his remarkable and often harrowing story. Featuring, live guitar improvisation by Freddie Katz.

Jon Leon Torn lives in Flagstaff, AZ. His work has been seen in New York at The Brick, Chain Lightning, Torn/Page, and Tribeca Lab Theater.

LADY BREWSTER WILL BURN: Parts 1 & 2
by Erika Phoebus
A wicked beverage interlude in 2 parts.

Runtime: 15 min

Brewing beer was a woman's sport until they were accused and hunted for witchcraft. Come drink with a Brewster who burned from this tale, and may the wine in your belly resurrect her. Written and performed by Erika Phoebus, Artistic Director of Theater 4the People, recipient of the awards for Planet Connections 2018 Best Leading Actress (Rusalka) and Best Play (Rusalka), former Manderley cocktail waitress at The McKittrick Hotel.

Part 1: Dec 12, 18 & Jan 5, During intermission
Part 2: Dec 13, 14, 19, 21 & Jan 6, During intermission

So-fi FESTIVAL is a curated festival comprised of low-fi, multi-disciplinary, new work with a focus on solo performance, which challenges the boundaries of form. Founded in 2018 by Perfomer/ Creator/ Producers, Jody Christopherson, Nathan Gebhard and Romy Nordlinger. Advisory Board: Katie Hartman, Tony Torn

TORN PAGE is a performance space for established and emerging artists located in the historic home of Rip Torn and Geraldine Page, a 19th century Victorian/Bohemian Browstone in Chelsea NYC. In association with the W.B. Yeats Society, Torn Page recently presented the APT 929 production of The Only Jealousy of Emer, as part of Origin's First Irish Theatre Festival, which was awarded Best Design and extended twice. Torn Page looks forward to welcoming The Civilians "Paul Swan Is Dead and Gone", Directed by Steve Cosson, April-25th- May 19th, 2019.

Tickets start at $15 and are available now. Single advance tickets to So-fi shows are $15 and can be accessed online at https://www.so-fi-festival.com/, beginning Thursday, November 29th.