Mike Schlitt and Son of Semele Theater Present JESUS RIDE, 3/9-4/8

Award-winning solo artist Mike Schlitt, in association with Son of Semele, will present Jesus Ride from March 9 through April 8. The production, which garnered "Outstanding Solo Show" at the New York Fringe in 2009, was presented at Son of Semele Theater last year and will return there this spring for a 5-week run that will culminate in an Easter Sunday performance and celebration. 

Jesus Ride described is an epic comedic roller coaster ride through thirty-three films about Jesus Christ and the confessions of the secular humanist non-practicing Jewish movie zealot who watched them all. This multi-media solo piece written and performed by Mike Schlitt traces the origins of the rabbi who became the father of modern Christianity, from his first appearance on the written page to his most recent and lucrative cinematic incarnation. Part movie history, part personal odyssey, Jesus Ride is the story of two protagonists: one--the son of God, the other--son of a Hollywood TV writer. 

Mike Schlitt is a founding member of the Actors' Gang Theatre, two-time winner of the New York International Fringe Festival's Outstanding Solo Performance award, and a recipient of the LADCC Margaret Harford award for outstanding contribution to Los Angeles Theater. Since 1983, he has produced, directed, written or performed in over 40 Actors' Gang Productions. Favorites include directing the American Premiere of Georg Tabori's MEIN KAMPF (BackStage West Garland Award winner), adapting and directing Gogol's THE INSPECTOR GENERAL (L.A. Weekly Award nominee), co-writing and directing LITTLE MAN IN THE BOX(Dramalogue Award, included in L.A. Times' top 10 productions of the year), developing and directingASYLUM (Dramalogue Award) and directing and performing in two separate productions of the long running hit KLUB (L.A. Weekly Award, "Best Revival 2008"). His work as a solo performer has been seen in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland and New York: DRIVE, HE SAID (Saxon Lee Gallery), MIKE'S INCREDIBLE INDIAN ADVENTURE (LATC, Flea Theatre, Portland Center Stage), JESUS RIDE (Here Arts, Soho Playhouse, Elephant Asylum, Son of Semele, the Marsh). He has also made short films for Epic Records IN THE STUDIO WITH TENACIOUS D, FXM Network, JOE'S GYRO PALACE and Sony Pictures STUDIO HEAD. 

Director TraCy Young has recently worked with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) directing and co-adapting Moliere's THE IMAGINARY INVALID, Goldoni's THE SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS; and directing Luis Alfaro's BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER. She co-created and directedMEDEA/MACBETH/CINDERELLA (with Bill Rauch) for Yale Repertory Theatre, which will receive a production at OSF later this year. For six years, Ms. Young was an artistic associate at Cornerstone Theatre Company, directing several productions, including Shishir Kurup's MERCHANT OF VENICE (Taper Too Workshop) and Yehuda Hyman's CENTER OF THE STAR (Greenway Court). Original works includeDREAMPLAY, a site-specific piece performed in a swimming pool, and two long-running hit musicalsHYSTERIA and EUPHORIA (Actors' Gang). A multiple recipient of Ovation, L.A. Weekly and BackStage West Garland awards for directing and playwriting; she has received a P.E.N. West playwriting award, Center Theatre Group's Robert Sherwood Directing Award, and was a finalist for Theatre Communications Group's Allen Schneider Directing Award. 

Producer Matthew McCray is the Founding Artistic Director of Son of Semele Ensemble, profiled by American Theatre in 2004 as one of the country's top up-and-coming theatre ensembles. In 2008, McCray was in residence at Center Theatre Group developing FENCEROW TO FENCEROW, his play about American agriculture, sustainable food and the obesity epidemic. His most recent directorial work includes the world premieres of Stephanie Fleischmann's WHAT THE MOON SAW (Son of Semele), Steve Lozier's DOOMSAYER(Moving Arts), and Meredith Steinman's THE MEETING (Circle X), as well as the West Coast premiere of 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)" for Son of Semele's ANIMAL FARM. www.matthewmccray.com

This production is made possible by SOSEhost, Son of Semele's curated hosting program that provides artists with subsidized space, equipment and staffing to mount their works. For more information about Son of Semele Ensemble (SOSE), visit www.sonofsemele.org. 

Performances of Jesus Ride run March 9 to April 8, 2012, on Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday afternoons at 1:00 p.m. All Sunday shows will include a brief Communion Service for non-practicing Jews, lapsed Christians and Movie Zealots. Admission ranges from $12-15. Tickets are available through the SOSE website at www.sonofsemele.org.  The box office opens one half hour prior to curtain.  Son of Semele Theater is located in Silver Lake at 3301 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA  90004 (one mile west of Alvarado).  For more information, visit www.sonofsemele.org.

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