Atlanta's Synchronicity Theatre To Produce Jennifer Barclay's RIPE FRENZY

Atlanta's Synchronicity Theatre will produce the rolling premiere of Jennifer Barclay's new play, Ripe Frenzy. The winner of the 2016 NNPN Smith Prize for Political Theatre, Ripe Frenzy tells the story of a mass shooting in a small American town. Told from multiple points of view, and through the lens of Thornton Wilder's classic play, Our Town, Barclay examines all sides of a tragedy that has ruptured the spirit a once idyllic community. Performances run from April 13 to May 6, 2018. For tickets or more information, please visit synchrotheatre.com or call 404-484-8636.

The play revolves around town historian and narrator, Zoe, as she recounts the days leading up to a devastating shooting in her hometown of Tavistown, N.Y. On stage, the audience watches as children prepare for the school's production of Our Town, the "quintessentially American" play about life, death, and family that's deeply entwined into the fabric of their community, before the shooter opens fire. Using Our Town as a framework for the mass shooting epidemic that has pervaded American society, Barclay provides the audience with a vehicle to explore questions about what has become the "new normal" in America, and approaches the issue of mass shootings from what she calls, "the perpetuation of this epidemic through both social media and journalistic media." (Boston Globe)

Obie Award-Winning projection designer, Jared Mezzocchi, who has collaborated with Barclay on workshops of Ripe Frenzy, will embed media design into the production, creating its own "character" in the play.

Ripe Frenzy is directed by Synchronicity Theatre's Producing Artistic Director Rachel May, and will feature Scenic Design by Barrett Doyle, Costume Design by Hollis Smith, Sound Design by Kacie Willis, Lighting Design by Joel Coady and Properties Design by Jillian Haughey.

The cast includes Atlanta-based actors Taylor Dooley as Zoe, Danyé Evonne as Felicia, Megan Cramer as Miriam, Lizzy Liu as Hadley/Bethany, and Parker Ciliax as Matt/Bryan James McNamara.

Show times for Ripe Frenzy are Wednesdays to Saturdays at 8:00pm, and Sundays at 5:00pm. All performances will be at Synchronicity Theatre in Midtown Atlanta's Peachtree Pointe complex.

Single ticket prices range from $26-40, and are available online at synchrotheatre.com. Group tickets are also available. Please contact Chelsea Pedano at chelsea@synchrotheatre.com for more info.

Ripe Frenzy is a National New Play Network (NNPN) Rolling World Premiere with New Rep Theatre (MA) and Greenway Court Theatre (CA).

Ripe Frenzy deals with topics such as social isolation, bullying, suicide prevention, gun control, community healing, and mental health. Synchronicity is looking for "Synchronizers" who are interested in helping gather audiences and participate in community engagement around these important topics. If you are interested in increasing awareness around these issues, please email rachel@synchrotheatre.com.

WINNER of the 2016 NNPN Smith Prize for Political Theatre, Ripe Frenzy tells the story of a mass shooting in a small American town. Told from multiple points of view, and through the lens of Thornton Wilder's classic play, Our Town, playwright Jennifer Barclay examines all sides of a tragedy that has ruptured the spirit a once idyllic community.

ABOUT SYNCHRONICITY THEATRE

Synchronicity Theatre, led by Producing Artistic Director Rachel May and Managing Director & Artistic Associate Lee Nowell, produces smart, gutsy, high-quality theatre that sparks community connections and uplifts the voices of women and girls. Synchronicity supports women artists, forges long-term and effective community partnerships and develops new work. Synchronicity was founded in 1997 by four women with a desire to work collaboratively and bring challenging, meaningful theatre to Atlanta audiences. They now reach nearly 8,000 patrons through their season of plays for adults (Bold Voices) and families (Family Series); community outreach; new play development (SheWRITES, Stripped Bare) and educational programming, including Playmaking for Kids (PFK) summer camps and after school programs and the award-winning Playmaking for Girls (PFG) program. An intimate theatre in the heart of midtown at Peachtree Pointe became Synchronicity's home in the summer of 2014.

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