Phoenix Theatre Opens BLESS ME, ULTIMA Tonight

Phoenix Theatre of Indianapolis announces Bless Me, Ultima. Opening tonight, May 15th, 2014 in the Frank and Katrina Basile stage at the Phoenix, this show runs through June 8th, 2014 and will be directed by the Producing Director of the Phoenix Theatre Bryan Fonseca. Performances on June 7th and 8th will be in Spanish.

Bless Me, Ultima is based on the best selling Chicano novel of all time. Written and adapted for stage by Rudolfo Anaya and published in 1972, Bless Me, Ultima was recenty made into a cinematic film in 2013. It remains an enduring and growing focal point of Latino cultural identity, as well as a source of uniquely authentic folklore. This play is a gorgeous landscape of fertile images magnifying a coming of age spiritual quest and raw emotions.

Set in New Mexico in the 1940's, Antonio is a young boy torn between many worlds. Traversing between the hopes of his mother Maria who dreams he will become a priest, and his father Gabriel who longs of returning to his rancher roots with the help of his sons. The veil between the physical and spiritual world is blurred through Ultima a medicine woman of great wisdomwhoeducatesAntoniotothehistoryofhispeople. Asconflictsmounttoviolentterms,Antoniomustfindhisbalance between the traditions of the past, his belief in God, and the expectations of his family.

Scot Greenwell returns to the Phoenix stage in the role of the Narrator. He has appeared in over 20 productions at the Phoenix as well as at the Indiana Repertory Theatre and Beef and Boards. Elisa Creekmur is making her Phoenix Theatre debut. She has performed with Indyprov, Acting Up Productions, and the Hendricks Civic Theatre. The cast also includes Bridgette Richards, Joe Vanegas, A.J. Morrison, Kienan Finley, Maria Diaz, and Arianne Villareal.

Bryan Fonseca has been the Producing Director for the Phoenix Theatre for over 30 years and countless productions. He has also twice been awarded a Creative Renewal Fellowship from the Indianapolis Arts Council.

In addition the staff for Bless Me, Ultima includes Chelsey Stauffer as Stage Manager, Jeff Martin as Technical Director, Laura Glover as Lighting Designer, Ashley Kiefer as Costume and Props Designer, Ben Dobler as Video Designer, Tom Horan as Sound Designer, and Mariel Greenlee as Choreographer.

Tickets for Bless Me, Ultima are on sale now. The entire first weekend are CheapSeats performances. Tickets are just $18.00 per person and performances on June 7th and 8th will be in Spanish. All remaining performances are $28.00 per person, or $18.00 for anyone 21 & under. Tickets for Bless Me Ultima may be purchased by calling the box office at 317.635.7529 or may be purchased on-line at phoenixtheatre.org. Curtain times for all Phoenix shows: Thursdays - 7 pm; Fridays and Saturdays - 8 pm; Sundays - 2 pm. Group rates are available for this show - contact Sales Director, Ryan O'Shea, at 317.635.2381 or roshea@phoenixtheatre.org.

The Phoenix Theatre is Indiana's only professional contemporary theatre, and has presented productions to challenge and entertain the Indianapolis community for 31 years. An Equity house, the Phoenix presents the Midwest and Indiana premieres of many popular Broadway and Off-Broadway plays, and has presented more than 85 world premieres. The Phoenix operates the 130-seat proscenium Livia and Steve Russell Theatre as well as the 65-seat cabaret-style black box Frank and Katrina Basile Stage. The Phoenix Theatre serves beer, wine, coffee, soft drinks, water, and treats. Patrons may take all refreshments into either theatre. Both venues are housed along with administrative offices in a renovated 1907 church in downtown Indianapolis' historic Chatham Arch neighborhood, part of the Mass Ave Arts and Theatre District. The Phoenix Theatre is a member of the National New Play Network and the League of Indianapolis Theatres, and is supported by the Indiana Arts Commission, the Arts Council of Indianapolis, and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as local corporate and foundation funders and more than 400 individual donors.

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