GAN-e-meed Theatre Project Announces SILENCE Artistic Team 12/2-18

GAN-e-meed Theatre Project announces a stand-out cast and design team for Moira Buffini's prize-winning comedy Silence, a modern Dark Ages comedy of power, gender, identity, and desire-- living as we do... on the edge of destruction. This final production of GAN-e-meed Theatre Project's inaugural 2010 season continues the year-long exploration of Gender in Leadership. Tickets are now available for performances December 2-18.

Featured Artist Erin Scanlon (Ymma) is an Equity actress and educator who worked in New York before returning to her native state. She usually only performs summers at Connecticut Free Shakespeare, but was drawn to Silence and chose it for GAN-e-meed. Scanlon is among the first to be able to take advantage of the company's unique method of selecting a season: accepting submissions from women theatre artists, who will then participate as the Featured Artist in the production. "Silence excites me with its exploration of so many of the complicated issues that we face in our society. I am also fascinated by the character of Ymma who has such fire and courage, in a time when women of her class were expected to simply obey" says Scanlon. "I couldn't resist."

The title role of Silence is played by an actress at the other end of the spectrum- Newton South High School senior Madeline Schulman, making her professional debut. No stranger to the stage, she has stretched in such roles Hellen Keller in The Miracle Worker and Lady Macbeth in Macbeth, after working with Roth as a freshman in Sophocles' Electra. "Maddy is a very talented and dedicated young actress; I was thrilled when she decided to audition for Silence. She brings authenticity and spirit to a role that is usually cast with an actress in her twenties; I am excited to see what she'll bring to the table."

Schulman will be supported onstage by an experienced cast. In addition to Scanlon, Terrence P. Haddad (Eadric), Marc Harpin (Roger), Molly Hass-Hooven (Agnes) and Scott Sweatt (Ethelred) have performed extensively with local and regional companies such as New Repertory Theatre, Shakespeare NOW!, Whistler in the Dark, and The Jean Cocteau Repertory. Samson Quaintance (Production Manager) and Emily McCourt (lighting designer) returns after staffing Hamlet earlier this year. Stage Manager Amanda Sheehan, along with designers Gillian Moon (sound) and Emily Woods-Hogue (costumes) are all new to GAN-e-meed, although other local credits include Lyric Stage and the College of the Holy Cross. "The cast and production team of Silence is a wonderful mix of old friends and new faces" says director and GAN-e-meed Producing Artistic Director SerahRose Roth. "Their combined creative force is electrifying. I walk away from production meetings with an enormous grin on my face."

Roth continues "I felt drawn to the story of Silence because although it focuses on gender identity and the power-and powerlessness-of women, it's an ensemble piece that is filled with both female and male stories. It is only with their stories told together that we see their true identities emerge. They're all looking for who they are, where they are, and what to do to change (or rule) their world. Buffini brings us with her on the journey, delving into complex contemporary issues smack in the middle of an hysterical scene. My laughter becomes horror, and then I'm laughing again. It's brilliant."

About Silence
Buffini won the 1999 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize for best English-language play by a woman for Silence. Its New York opening in 2002 prompted The New York Times to call it a "witty, provocative, prizewinning comedy drama...SILENCE deserves to be seen." The Village Voice said "Fun to watch... compelling, taut, and effervescent... the nimble physical comedy is a treat. Buffini's wit triumphs."

A comedy set in the Dark Ages of England, Silence tells the story of Ymma, a bitter Norman noblewoman banished to England and forced to marry 14-year-old lordling, Silence, who is worth far more than he seems. After an unexpected stand-off with the despotic King Ethelred, the two lovers--joined by Ymma's innocent servant Agnes, Roger a hapless priest, and Eadric, a soldier with an eye for radiance-embark on a journey through power, identity, gender, and desire that will change their lives forever.

One Page Play Experiment
In conjunction with this production of Silence, GAN-e-meed is also hosting the first-of-its-kind One Page Play Experiment, celebration and competition of three great arts: visual, text, and performance. Artists are invited to submit a piece of visual and textual art- a play on one decorated page, with a theme of Silence- through November 20. Top submissions will be displayed during the run of Silence where audience members will vote for their favorites, and will also be presented as staged readings on Sunday December 12 in a free performance which is open to the public. The winners of the audience vote will receive a full performance as part of GAN-e-meed's 2011 season.

About GAN-e-meed Theatre Project
Silence will be the final production of the GAN-e-meed's inaugural 2010 (calendar year) season Gender in Leadership. This year has included their inaugural production of Hamlet (featuring an all-female cast) which performed in May 2010 in Lowell and Somerville to sell-out audiences, as well as collaborating with other arts organizations for shorter engagements. GAN-e-meed produced Lucy Dreaming, starting Erin Scanlon and directed by SerahRose Roth, as part of FeverFest2010 , in conjunction with STAB (the Small Theatre Alliance of Boston). Ties That Bind, three short plays written, directed, and about women was presented by GAN-e-meed as part of Whistler in the Dark's Second Act Series at the Factory Theatre in February 2010. Funds for Hamlet were partially raised by BOOBFest: Bringing On-Stage Opportunities to Babes, a wildly successful variety show celebration hosted by GAN-e-meed at Boston Playwrights' Theatre. GAN-e-meed also continues to host monthly Networking Nights for Women in Theatre and their supporters, now on the *second* Monday of every month (check www.ganemeed.org for details).

Production Team
Samson Quaintance, Production Manager
Amanda Sheehan, Stage Manager
Emily Woods-Hogue, Costume Design
Emily McCourt, Lighting Design
Gillian Moon, Sound Design

Cast
Terrence Haddad
Marc Harpin
Molly Hass-Hooven
Erin Scanlon*
Madeline Schulman
Scott Sweat
*This actor appears courtesy of Actors' Equity Association

GAN-e-meed Theatre Project was founded in 2009 to advance the role of women in theatre: the experienced and novice, young and old, artist and leader. To accomplish this, their seasons are created from shows proposed by female artists (actress, stage manager, designer, playwright, or director). Submission procedures for the 2011 season will be announced soon.. They promote the study of and visibility of gender bias within the theatre community. GAN-e-meed Theatre Project hopes to be the catalyst to establishing gender equity in New England theatre. For additional information about Silence, the One Page Play Experiment, the 2011 Season submission process, or other GAN-e-meed events, or to join the mailing list, visit www.GANemeed.org.

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