facebook me Returns as Official Selection of the FringeNYC ENCORE SERIES

The 2011 FringeNYC hit facebook me is set to returns as an official selection of the FringeNYC ENCORE SERIES, a production of THE Present Company

The sold out show, created by NYC's AWARD-WINNING youth theater arts program, THE ARTS EFFECT NYC, adds five new performance dates September 17-25

Developed by the 13-15 year-old actor/writers of The Arts Effect All-Girl Theatre Company (Winner of Most Outstanding Ensemble, Fringe 2008), facebook me took the FringeNYC by storm as it delved deep into one of the hottest, most talked about, highly debated topics in the news today...teens on Facebook.

Six million girls ages 13-15 are on Facebook while countless adults ponder what its like to come of age in the iGeneration. facebook me is a shockingly real look into the lives of ten teen girls as they attempt to navigate the excitement and embarrassment, the shame and the success of their adolescence online...where status is so much more than an update. Private battles are fought in public as thousands witness, comment, take sides and ultimately determine a victor. A witty comment, a suggestive photograph, a scandal revealed--nothing is too sacred nor too personal in the goal to garner "likes" and be liked. Directed by Katie Cappiello and Meg McInerney, co-founders of The Arts Effect NYC, facebook me bravely reveals the details of teens existence online.

facebook me FringeNYC ENCORE SERIES schedule
SATURDAY, September 17 @ 2:00pm?--including post show Talkback and Q&A with Gloria Steinem and NY Times Bestselling author Rachel Simmons (Odd Girl Out and The Curse of the Good Girl)
SUNDAY, September 18 @ 2:00pm?
SATURDAY, September 24 @ 2:00pm? and 9:30pm
SUNDAY, September 25 @ 2:00pm
Location: Soho Playhouse 15 Vandam St. NYC (btwn Varick Street and Sixth Ave.)
www.facebookmetheplay.com

About the facebook me development process
In September 2010, The Arts Effect NYC All-Girl Theater Company began crafting facebook me. For six months, under the guidance of company directors Katie Cappiello and Meg McInerney, the 15 members of the all-girl ensemble attended weekly creative sessions bringing stories and experiences to share and deconstruct. Through a unique combination of debate and discussion, improvisation, reflective writing, character building around this theme, The Arts Effect girls have created an edgy original play. facebook me is guaranteed to give audiences an honest, "real time" look at the effects of Facebook on the emotional, physical, and creative lives of iGeneration girls.
"facebook me is more than a production--it's the culmination of a challenging creative process for our girls. Our goal is to offer a safe space for young, impassioned, intellectually curious teen girls to come together to artistically explore the realities of their world and engage their community through theater."--Katie Cappiello & Meg McInerney, Founders/Directors, The Arts Effect NYC, facebook me

About The Arts Effect NYC
Founded by Katie Cappiello and Meg McInerney and recently voted "THE BEST THEATER GROUP FOR KIDS IN NYC" by Nickelodeon, The Arts Effect is NYC's premiere performing arts development and youth theater program for young, impassioned, up-and-coming artists. Established in 2007, The Arts Effect utilizes the power of the theater arts in the classroom and on the stage to support children in building stronger senses of self, finding their voices, and engaging and inspiring their communities/peers through the creation of thought-provoking and innovative theatrical experiences.

About The Arts Effect All-Girl Companies
The Arts Effect dedicates itself to creating artistic opportunities for tween and teen girls to share their voices and spark conversation. The All-Girl Company and All-Girl Jr. Company bring girls ages 8-15, from across the Tri-State, together weekly to artistically explore their world as a team. Through lively, respectful debate and discussion, improvisation, and creative writing, original girl-driven, girl-focused plays are created.

About Katie Cappiello & Meg McInerney
Katie Cappiello and Meg McInerney are graduates of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts where they studied a combination of Theater (The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute), Women's Studies, and Applied Theater. Katie and Meg are the founders- directors of The Arts Effect NYC. In their 10 years of teaching, they have brought theater arts programming to over 15 public/private schools in NYC. Their revolutionary work with young girls has been revered by many throughout NYC and beyond, including: Secretary of State Hillary R. Clinton, Eve Ensler, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Amy Richards, and Jennifer Baumgardner. In Fall 2009, they developed Operation: Girl Power! with the goal of bringing their girl-focused, girl-supporting creative arts workshops/events to elementary and middle school girls. The Operation: Girl Power! Premiere was attended by over 400 NYC girls and their families and offered FREE acting, creative writing, blogging, and film- making workshops along with FREE performances. Currently, Operation: Girl Power! serves 500 girls in NYC private, public, and special ed. schools. In 2009, Cappiello & McInerney were honored by The National Women's Hall of Fame and The United States Congress for their work with the girls of NYC and beyond.