Stella Adler Studio to Mark 50th Anniversary of Landmark Case Loving v. Virginia

The Stella Adler Studio of Acting's Harold Clurman Laboratory Theater and Radical Evolution today announced its presentation of Loving and Loving, a play by Beto O'Byrne, developed with Meropi Peponides, opening on June 12, 2017, the 50th anniversary of the historic Loving v. Virginia decision of the United States Supreme Court that overturned laws criminalizing interracial marriage in the U.S. The play examines the landmark court case from a 21st Century perspective, exploring the complexities of intimacy and identity, the impact of law on our most personal decisions, and the ongoing legacy of this case in our present, multiracial America.

"We are honored to presenT Loving and Loving with Radical Evolution," said Tom Oppenheim, Artistic Director, Stella Adler Studio of Acting. "50 years after Loving v. Virginia, our nation continues to grapple with issues around race and identity. There is no better time than now to revisit and examine these topics through art and artistry."

"We are thrilled to share this story that considers the Lovings' struggle, examines what experiences we as mixed people share, and asks what we have inherited from the past that strengthens us," said Beto O' Byrne, playwright and co-founder of Radical Evolution. "We are grateful to be partnering with the Stella Adler Studio to bring this piece to life and make space for this conversation."

Loving and Loving will run from Monday, June 12, to Friday, June 30, 2017. Tickets are $18 in advance; a limited number of "pay what you can" tickets will be available at the door.

To mark the 50th anniversary of Loving v. Virginia, the Studio will also host The "Other" Box: A Conversation About Mixed America on June 5, 2017, at 7 PM. The event will address identity, visibility and the collective similarities and differences of the mixed-race experience. Panelists will include editor and University of Maryland professor Lawrence-Minh Bùi Davis, and award-winning solo actor and educator Fanshen Cox DiGiovanni. Jami Floyd, legal analyst and local host of WNYC's "All Things Considered," a New York City native and herself multiracial, will moderate.

To purchase tickets for Loving and Loving and The "Other" Box: A Conversation About Mixed-Race America, visit https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/dept/1658/1496289600000.

About The Stella Adler Studio of Acting
Established in 1949 by Stella Adler, the Stella Adler Studio of Acting was founded upon Adler's belief in the supreme seriousness of her art, and has, for the last five decades, enriched every part of the American theater and film arts. Adler's philosophies kept many well-known members of the theater coming back for her intelligent and passionate advice and the school has since trained many of the brilliant actors of our time, including Marlon Brando, Robert DeNiro, Elaine Stritch, Benicio Del Toro and Salma Hayek. The Stella Adler Studio of Acting is a not-for-profit organization, which trains over 500 actors annually and also presents world-class lectures, poetry readings, jazz, classical music, theater, and dance theater events. www.stellaadler.com.

About Radical Evolution
Radical Evolution is a multiethnic producing collective committed to creating artistic events that seek to understand the complexities of the mixed-identity existence in the 21st Century. We believe that visibility and representation for the fastest growing demographic in our nation is crucial to live performance. Our ensemble-based approach works to create aesthetically and formally rigorous events incorporating people from a variety of backgrounds, with a focus on people of color. We hope to seed the field of experimental and collaboratively created theatre with practitioners that assert a vision for cultural and social equity in our field, city, and nation.

Our previous collaborations include work with The Movement Theatre Company, The Performance Project @ University Settlement, and the historic El Teatro Campesino. Our work has been supported by The Network of Ensemble Theatres, the Puffin Foundation, Tofte Lake Center and Brooklyn Arts Exchange. www.radicalevolution.org.