Andrea Thome's PINKOLANDIA Begins Tonight at 16th Street Theater

16th Street Theater, in collaboration with New York's Lark Play Development Center, presents the rolling premiere of Andrea Thome's Pinkolandia directed by Artistic Director Ann Filmer performing tonight, April 3 - May 10, 2014 at North Berwyn Park District's 16th Street Theater, 6420 16th Street in Berwyn, with a press opening of Thursday, April 10 at 7:30 PM.

Exiled from Chile to the strange land of Reagan-era Wisconsin, two young sisters must create imaginary worlds to uncover the story of their family's past. Traveling through fantasies of glaciers, talking bears and Nazi-fighting revolutionaries, Pinkolandia is a play about growing up - because sometimes, when you lose your country, you have to invent your own. Performed in English with a sprinkling of Spanish, Pinkolandia is the second show in 16th Street's Season Seven 2014: How to Be Good.

"16th Street is honored to be one of four theaters across the country chosen for this rolling premiere of Andrea Thome's imaginative and beautiful play," states director Ann Filmer. Pinkolandia is part of the Lark Play Development Center's Launching New Plays into the Repertoire Initiative, supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, in collaboration with INTAR Theatre in New York, Austin's Salvage Vanguard Theater, New Jersey's Two River Theatre Company, and Chicagoland's 16th Street Theater. 16th Street's production of Pinkolandia is supported in part by The Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation.

Pinkolandia features Maritza Cervantes (Howard Zinn's The People Speak Live! with Matt Damon at The Metro, Teatro Luna's MACHOS), Carlos Rogelio Diaz (Steppenwolf's How Long Will I Cry...) Stephanie Diaz (Lookingglass's The Great Fire, 16th Street's Accidental Rapture, Kita y Fernanda), Hannah Gomez (Jeff-Nominated for Rivendell's Crooked), Miguel Nunez (Lifeline's The Three Musketeers), and Nate Whelden (Jackalope's The Peacock, Stuart in Sideshow's Maria/Stuart).

Born to Chilean/Costa Rican parents in Wisconsin, ANDREA THOME grew up navigating the multiple landscapes and languages that inhabit her plays. Her play Pinkolandia was selected for the 3rd annual "Launching New Plays" program by the Lark Play Development Center/Mellon Foundation. Pinkolandia opened May 2013 at INTAR Theater, (Read The New York Times review here) and continued its rolling premiere at Austin's Salvage Vanguard Theater last fall, Two River Theater (now playing) and now here at Berwyn's 16th Street Theater.

Her other plays include: Undone (Queens College Theater; Victory Gardens Ignition Festival; INTAR New Works Lab; Lark BareBones); Worm Girl (Cherry Red Productions, DC) and her work-in-progress, The Necklace of the Dove, a Mabou Mines Resident Artist Project 2012-13.

Her translation of Neva, by Chile's foremost playwright, Guillermo Calderón, premiered at the Public Theater in March 2013 and was produced by CTG/South Coast Rep/La Jolla Playhouse in June 2013. Her translation of Rodrigo García's You Should Have Stayed Home, Morons was commissioned by CTG and premieres at the RadarLA Festival in September 2013.

Andrea directs the Lark Play Development Center's US-Mexico Playwright Exchange, and co-directs FULANA, a Latina video/satire collective.

Honors: NYFA fellowship, Women's Project Lab, Lark New Voices/New York fellow, New Dramatists (resident playwright).

16th Street Theater in collaboration with New York's Lark Play Development Center presents the rolling premiere of PINKOLANDIA, featuring: Maritza Cervantes, Carlos Rogelio Diaz, Stephanie Diaz, Hannah Gomez, Miguel Nunez and Nate Whelden. DESIGNS BY: Joanna Iwanicka, (Scenic), Cat Wilson (Lights), Barry Bennett (Sound), Jesse Gaffney (Props), Christine Pascual (Costumes). STAGE MANAGED BY Wendye Clarendon.

Performances run April 3 - May 10, 2014. Previews: April 3 & 4 at 7:30 PM, April 5 at 8:30 PM. Press Opening: Thursday, April 10, 2014 @ 7:30 PM. Regular Run: Thursdays & Fridays @ 7:30 PM, Saturdays @ 5:00 & 8:30 PM. No show Saturday, April 5 at 5:00 PM. All shows play the 16th Street Theater, 6420 16th Street in Berwyn. RUNNING TIME: 2 hours. One intermission.

To purchase tickets, visit www.16thstreettheater.org or call (708) 795-6704, or visit in person at North Berwyn Park District, 1619 Wesley Ave., Berwyn. General Admission: $18 Group Tickets $14 for 8+.

Free parking one block west in lot at 16th and Gunderson across from Lincoln School.

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