Hero Theatre Presents the World Premiere of RISE: AN IMMERSIVE EXPLORATION OF GUN VIOLENCE IN SCHOOLS.

Hero Theatre presents the world premiere of Rise: An Immersive Exploration of Gun Violence in Schools, an immersive, site-specific piece devised and directed by Director and Game Designer Jack McCarthy.

Previews will take place on August 27th and 28th. The production will open on Saturday, September 3rd, at Silverlake's Micheltorena Street Elementary School, where performances will continue weekends through September 18th. This is the first full production in Hero Ignite, a new program at Hero Theatre that serves as a lab for new works created and inspired by the voices of America's youth.

In Rise, audience members will become active participants in a school lockdown. This fictional account, inspired by actual events, explores themes related to gun violence in schools. By being presented in a real school classroom, Rise gives a candid look at what youth in America face today.

The Cast includes Hero Theatre company members Ashley Busenlener, Joseph Henderson, Ephraim Lopez, Julia Stier, as well as newcomers Malick Ceesay, Elizabeth Kelly, Liviera Lim, Jackie Lopez, and Jacob Salazar.

"RISE was a play we were scheduled to do before the pandemic. I had seen a play that Jack McCarthy directed at The Hollywood Fringe. I was impressed at how incredibly precise his work was for being an emerging director. We met, and I asked if he could develop a piece about young people and gun violence for Hero Theatre. We had just created Hero Ignite, a new branch of the company focusing on young voices in America. RISE brings up a lot of strong emotions in me. I am a teacher, specifically of high-school students. We have a student Ambassador Group of young women who participate in the play's community engagement process. We include their voices every step of the way. I am deeply looking forward to exploring this in an immersive environment," states Producing Artistic Director Elisa Bocanegra.

The Creative Team includes Set and Properties Designer Kevin Bean and Sound Designer JJ Margolis. The Costume Team consists of Maggie Dick as Costume Designer and Daniela Perez as Assistant Costume Designer. C.J. Craig will be Assistant Director, and Ashley Weaver will Stage Manage.

A first-of-its-kind Student Ambassador Group will provide outreach to local schools and includes high-schoolers Kamiah Andrews, Scarlett Fisher, Bella Neumann, and Larrieux Ross.

Hero Theatre is a social justice, community-based company that uses art to model and bring about social and environmental justice. They invite audiences to envision and experience America as they do. Hero examines classical and contemporary works, ensuring that equity, diversity, and inclusion remain at the forefront.

Hero Theatre and its offshoot, Hero Multimedia, recently launched Nuestro Planeta, a ten-year multimedia, new works initiative that educates Latiné film and theater audiences about environmental justice within the Americas.

Jack McCarthy is an award-winning immersive director, producer, and themed entertainment professional living in Los Angeles. He has designed escape rooms and immersive experiences for clients in 18 countries, including experiences for graduate school instruction, corporate team building, and influencer product marketing. He is also the owner of FantasyEscapeGames.com. Directing credits include new plays at The Adirondack Theatre Festival, Southern Rep, Constellation (formerly Bloomington Playwrights Project), and Pasadena Playhouse. He has assisted Tony-nominated directors, Martha Banta and Randy Johnson. Local immersive credits include: Ascend: When Myths Fall Heroes Rise (Hollywood Fringe ENCORE Award Winner, SXSW Innovation Award Finalist), Ghosts of Craven Manor (Best Audio Escape Game Bullseye Award Winner), and The Queen. Education: University of Southern California BA Theatre Directing, BS Business Administration. British American Drama Academy, London.

Performances of Rise take place Saturdays at 12:00 p.m. & 2:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. from Saturday, September 3rd through Sunday, September 18th. There will be two previews, on Saturday, August 27th, and Sunday, August 28th at 2:30 p.m. Tickets to all performances except previews are $35; tickets to previews are $25. Rise will perform at Micheltorena Street Elementary in Silverlake at 1511 Micheltorena St., Los Angeles, CA 90026.

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