VERA; OR, THE NIHILISTS Begins Performances Tonight at HERE

Oscar Wilde's outlandish first play Vera; Or, The Nihilists, a young assassin's struggle with love, rebellion, and political idealism, receives it's first ever New York revival since its 1883 debut, courtesy queer company Femme Fatale Theater, at downtown's Obie Award-winning HERE beginning tonight, Feb. 12.

Reinvigorated with an all-male cast in an adaptation inspired by demands for queer rights around the world and premiering during the controversial Winter Olympics in Russia, the production, directed by Femme Fatale Theater co-founders Stephen Gribbin and Robert Ribar, will continue through Feb. 16. Performances are at 7pm. The performance on Feb. 16 is at 2pm.

A young woman assassin fights to overthrow an oppressive Russian regime in this first ever New York revival of Oscar Wilde's outlandish, acid-tongued first play, which feels right at home in our current times of ever-polarizing politics, distrust of government, and global human rights violations. With an all-male cast lead by performance artist Chris Tyler in the title role, Femme Fatale Theater draws inspiration from contemporary demands for queer rights in Russia and around the world as it reinvigorates this comedy of love, rebellion, and political idealism.

Chris Tyler (James Franco's #HASHTAG) is joined by Harlan J. Alford, Michael Axelrod, William Barnet, Salty Brine, Daniel DeStefano, John Graham, John C. Hume, Dane Jerabek, Jake Lasser, and Peter Oliver. The production is designed by Jonathan Cottle with the directors.

HERE and the work presented there has garner 16 OBIE awards, five Drama Desk nominations and a Pulitzer Prize nomination. HERE is located 144 6th Ave (Enter on Dominick, 1 Block South of Spring). This production is a part of SubletSeries@HERE: Co-op, HERE's curated rental program, which provides artists with subsidized space and equipment, as well as technical support.

The Feb. 14 performance will be followed by a talkback featuring Vera co-directors Stephen Gribbin & Robert Ribar, members of the cast and Iranian human rights activist Ramin Haghjoo, moderated by TheaterMania critic Zachary Stewart. Ramin Haghjoo is an Iranian human rights activist and a consultant of the Abdorrahman Boroumand Foundation. He studied psychology at Islamic Azad University of Miane, but was expelled solely on the basis of his sexual orientation. He fled Iran in 2009 after he was shot by government agents during a peaceful protest in the aftermath of the controversial reelection of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

For tickets visit here.org or call 212-352-3101. The Box Office is open after 5pm on show days or 2 hours before any performance.

For additional information, visit femmefataletheater.com.

Photo by Hunter Canning