Atwater Village Theatre Closes ETERNAL THOU Tonight, 4/29

The world premiere of ETERNAL THOU, presented at the Atwater Village Theatre through tonight, April 29, 2012, is written and directed by Matthew McCray (Artistic Director, Son of Semle Ensemble), ETERNAL THOU is an existential sci-fi drama that fuses performance and media to explore the relationship between the ever-evolving telecommunication industry, its gadgetry, and the public it attempts to serve.

 

Written from the perspective of sentient technology and set in a mysterious telecommunication chamber, the five central characters of the play dive in and out of the unwieldy signals of The Internet trying to reprogram its central code and thereby protect it from outside forces that threaten its survival. Will their ongoing tampering with this vital communication system create a “butterfly effect” that brings humanity closer together or will they ultimately redefine the very nature of human existence?

 

This non-linear, fast-paced work takes place somewhere between the real and the virtual, in a metaphysical space where, as the play predicts, life will someday be experienced. From issues of Internet freedom to the existentialistic views of human existence as explored by the mystic Martin Buber, The Internet, presented as the central character of the play, is on a search for enlightenment that parallels our own.

 

ETERNAL THOU is McCray’s first independently produced work since founding Son of Semele Ensemble 10 years ago. The world premiere will feature a new sonic score by Ovation Award-winner Joseph ‘Sloe’ Slawinski, video by Adam Flemming, set by Sarah Krainin, lights by Ian Garrett and costumes by Ariel Boroff. The cast, in alphabetical order, features Rachel Appelbaum, Vonzell Carter, Jenny Greer, Jeffrey Johnson and Liam Springthorpe.

 

Matthew McCray is the Founding Artistic Director of Son of Semele Ensemble, which was profiled in 2004 by American Theatre as one of the country’s top up-and-coming theatre ensembles. In 2008, McCray and Son of Semele were in residence at Center Theatre Group developing McCray’s play about American agriculture, sustainable food and the obesity epidemic, FENCEROW TO FENCEROW. McCray’s recent directorial efforts include the world premieres of Stephanie Fleischmann’s WHAT THE MOON SAW (Son of Semele), Steve Lozier’s DOOMSAYER (Moving Arts), and Meredith Stiehm THE MEETING (Circle X), as well as the West Coast premieres of Mick Gordon’s ON EMOTION (Son of Semele) and Edward Anthony’s WISH I HAD A SYLVIA PLATH (Rogue Machine). He garnered a 2007 LA Weekly Award for “Multi-Media/Projections” for his production of Caridad Svich’s IPHIGENIA… A RAVE FABLE and in 2003 he accepted the Ovation Award for “Best Musical Production (Intimate Venue)” as the producer of Son of Semele’s ANIMAL FARM. For more information about Matthew McCray, visit www.matthewmccray.com.

 

Performances of ETERNAL THOU run April 6 – 29, 2012, on Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 p.m., Sunday afternoons at 5:00 p.m. and occasional Monday evenings at 8­­:00 p.m. Admission ranges from $17-25. Tickets are available through www.insidethechannel.com. The box office opens one half hour prior to curtain. The Atwater Village Theatre is located at 3269 Casitas Avenue, Atwater Village, CA 90039. For more information visit www.insidethechannel.com.