The Fringe Explores Prejudice ... Then And Now

THEN: A Black Union Soldier is wanted by both sides. THE LONG RAIL NORTH as part of The New York International Fringe Festival - FringeNYC (a production of The Present Company)

Tickets: $22 For tickets visit www.FringeNYC.org or www.thelongrailnorth.com

C.A.G.E. Theatre Company will present - as part of the first fall season of the New York International Fringe Festival - FringeNYC - The Long Rail North, written by award-winning playwright, Michael Hagins, and directed by former Planet Connections Artistic Director, Brock H. Hill.

The Long Rail North centers on Pvt. Thomas Morgan, a black union soldier, who must escape via train with a young southern white girl named Molly Barnes that he rescued from a plantation fire of a nearby Civil War battle. Exhausted, with limited resources and even fewer allies, Morgan (played by Xavier Rodney) continues traveling north getting Molly to safety - despite her racist view of him and his race. Regardless of his good intentions, both union and confederate forces pursue them.

Mr. Rodney is joined by Jordyn Morgan, Rich Wisneski, Anna M. Hogan, and Michael J. Whitten.

The C.A.G.E. (Classical Avant-Garde Experimental) Theatre of New York City begins its 14th season with this world premiere by founder, Michael Hagins. The company - dedicated to bringing classical works to modern audiences in new and fascinating ways have presented works including Two Gentlemen of Verona: A Swashbuckling Comedy! and A 1940's Comedy of Errors.

Stage Manager: Liza Penney; Technical Director: Melissa Farinelli; Costume Designer: Janet Mervin.

NOW: A Trans Student's Life hangs in the Balance.

SKYLAR

As Part of the 2018 New York International Fringe Festival

Performing at the new Fringe HUB Theatre, 685 Washington Street, NYC,

Tickets are $22, with discounts for groups. More info can be found at www.fringenyc.org

SKYLAR, the latest entry in Jonathan G Galvez's ambitious "Bridge" series of 16 plays, concerns a trans high school student clinging to life after being attacked at a school dance. Their girlfriend, father, and teacher meet in the waiting room and consider the events that led them there.

Led by queer director, Kristen Keim, the cast features Sam Lopresti as David, Skylar's teacher; Kaitlyn Gill as Pamela, Skylar's activist girlfriend; Eric Novak as Adam, Skylar's religious father, Dana Scurlock as the Nurse, Mark Levy as Vice Principal Gonzalez, Ashton Garcia as Scott, a football player, and Eli Denson as the titular Skylar, a trans teen. It should be noted that not only is Skylar portrayed by trans-gender-queer actor, Denson, but also role of Scott, a traditionally cis-gendered (identifying with the sex they were born as) role, being portrayed by trans-masculine actor, Garcia.

Celebrated playwright, Jonathan G Galvez's, works have received acclaim at the Fringe Festival, Manhattan Repertory Theatre, Planet Connections Theatre Festivity (mention award), and at William Paterson University, where he was winner of the 10th annual New Jersey Playwrights Contest. For additional information, visit www.TheBridgeSeries.org.

The New York International Fringe Festival has served as host for many of Galvez's Bridge Series, including Thirty Minutes or Less, The Girl With Her Hands in the Sand, The Call of the Siren, and A Life TBD.