STT to Kick Off 2016 Season with MARTYR

Second Thought Theatre kicks off its 2016 season with an area premiere about religious fundamentalism gone wrong. Blake Hackler makes his STT directorial debut in this play by Marius von Mayenburg, which opens with previews on Wednesday, January 13, 2016 and runs through February 6. All performances of Martyr will take place at Bryant Hall on the Kalita Humphreys Campus, 3636 Turtle Creek Blvd. Tickets to Martyr can be purchased online at 2TT.co.

"With examples of religious extremism on the rise both at home and abroad, Marius von Mayenberg's MARTYR seems particularly timely," said STT Artistic Director Alex Organ. "This play raises the kind of difficult questions audiences have come to expect from us at STT, and it does so with humor and intelligence. Leading a cast of some of the area's finest actors, Blake Hackler is the perfect director to tackle this funny and infuriating play."

Hackler, who appeared in STT's production of c*ckin 2014, directs the story of Benjamin, who is obsessed with the Old Testament. As the teen's behavior becomes increasingly aggressive, his teachers, his mother and his fellow students begin to worry that Benjamin's religious fixation has gone too far. Translated from its original German by Maja Zade, the darkly comic Martyr asks us how we should respond to those who wield fundamentalism as a weapon.

Garrett Storms makes his STT debut as Christian zealot Benjamin Sudel. Joining Storms are Ruben Carranzana as Georg Hansen, Andrews Cope as Markus Dorflinger, Mikaela Krantz as Lydia Weber, Allison Pistorius as Erika Roth, Paul Taylor as Vicar Dieter Menrath, Lulu Ward as Inge Sudel and Thomas Ward as Willy Batzler.

Helping Hackler to bring the story to live in STT's intimate Bryant Hall are scenic designer Darren Diggle, costume designer Amanda Capshaw, lighting designer Aaron Johansen and sound designer John Flores.

Martyr opens with previews on Wednesday, January 13 at 7:30p. Opening and press night is Friday, January 15 at 8:00pm. The PWYC performances of Martyr will take place on Wednesday, January 13; Thursday January 14; Monday, January 18; Monday, January 25 and Monday, February 1 at 7:30p. PWYC tickets are available at the box office one hour prior to the start of the performance and are subject to availability. Martyr runs through February 6. Tickets to Martyr are on sale now at 2TT.co and can be purchased for $25. STT 2016 season memberships can also be purchased online for $60.

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