Open Fist Presents THE GOOD WOMAN OF SETZUAN

The Open Fist Theatre Company presents the third show in their 2010 season, a new adaptation of Bertolt Brecht's classic THE GOOD WOMAN OF SETZUAN, translated by Eric Bentley with original music by Elizabeth Swados (Runaways), musical direction by Dean Mora and directed by Charles Otte (The Devil with Boobs). THE GOOD WOMAN OF SETZUAN will preview on Friday, May 28 at 8pm; Saturday, May 29 at 8pm; Thursday, June 3 at 8pm and will open on Friday, June 4 at 8pm and run through Saturday, July 17 at The Open Fist Theatre, 6209 Santa Monica Blvd. in Hollywood.

The Open Fist Theatre Company presents a re-imagined version of Brecht's classic play, THE GOOD WOMAN OF SETZUAN. The play is an alternately humorous and shocking look at how society deals with poverty and philanthropy. Set in an imaginary city in Setzuan in the pre-communist China between world wars, the play explores themes of good and evil; love and betrayal; and male/female identity. Although serious in its essence, Brecht uses song, dance, and style to create an often humorous and always provocative look at how humanity deals with love, money, and social injustice.

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM AND CAST

Charles Otte (Director) has over twenty years experience creating award-winning content for theatre, attractions, special events, and multi-media venues. Originally a theatre director, Otte also attended graduate school in film production at the University of Southern California where he received the John Huston award for directing excellence. As a professional, he has worked with a diverse clientele including Monty Python Productions, A&E Television, HDTV, The Sundance Institute, Roger Corman Films, BRC Imagination Arts, ShoConcepts, Sentosa Leisure Group, Boston Brewery, Lincoln Center, George P. Johnson Co., NASCAR, TEA, IAAPA, the ALLIANCE THEATRE, Martha Graham Dance Company, the Guthrie Theatre, and others. He is currently developing a program in Integrated Media with Live Performance at the University of Texas at Austin.

In New York Otte was an assistant to directors Andrei Serban and Robert Wilson before starting his own company, Project III Ensemble Theatre, at the Ohio Theatre in Soho. The Village Voice said of Otte's work, "The beauty and ingenuity of his visuals are rarely matched on any budget." In 1984, Mr. Otte began an association with Oscar nominated composer, Philip Glass, and later directed Mr. Glass's multi-media opera La Belle et La Bete, which received its premier at The Next Wave Festival at the Brooklyn Academy Of Music. Additional work with Mr. Glass included staging the international tour of Einstein on the Beach (for Robert Wilson), staging the Lincoln Center production of Songs from Liquid Days, staging The Civil Wars at Carnegie Hall (again for Robert Wilson), and staging Mr. Glass's opera The Juniper Tree (for Andrei Serban) at the Houston Opera.

Other New York productions include Flood by Guntar Grass, Moliere's Imaginary Invalid, Brecht's Baal, Mikhail Bulgokov's Bliss, The Cuchulain Cycle (based on the writings by W.B. Yeates), and the multi-media production This is a Test. In Los Angeles, work includes Travesties by Tom Stoppard (LA Weekly Award Winner for best direction), Bulgakov's Flight, Brecht's Threepenny Opera, Gozzi's King Stag, James Joyce's The Dead, David Rabe's Goose and Tomtom, and new plays by Bradley Smith, Steven Haworth, Rick Pagano, and John Bishop. In 2009 he produced the First Look Festival for the Open Fist Theatre (Los Angeles), premiering work by Julie Hebert, Neil LaBute, Steven Haworth, Francis Ya-Chu Cowhig, and Karen Hartman. His productions have received multiple LA Weekly and Ovation nominations.

Additional work in mixed media includes creating large scale events for conventions and directing awards shows. In 2002 Otte received the TEA Award for Outstanding Achievement for The Star of Destiny, in 2006 he received the TEA Award as a creative director for the Lincoln Museum, and in 2007 he received the LA Weekly award for best comedy direction for Travesties.

Eric Bentley (Translation) has been a major force in the theatre for over fifty years. He is a renowned critic, playwright, singer, editor and translator. He became an American citizen in 1948, and currently lives in New York City. In 1998 he was inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame; he is also a member of the New York Theater Hall of Fame, in recognition of his years of performances in cabarets.

In addition to teaching at Columbia University from 1953, Bentley was in the 1950s a theatre critic for The New Republic, known for his blunt style of theatre criticism. Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller threatened to sue Bentley for his unfavorable reviews of their work, but abandoned the attempt. From 1960-1961, Bentley was the Norton professor at Harvard University.

Bentley met Bertolt Brecht at UCLA as a young man and is considered one of the pre-eminent experts on Brecht. He edited the Grove Press issue of Brecht's work, and made two albums of Brecht songs for the legendary Folkways Records label, most of which had never been recorded in English before.

He has written many critical books, including "A Century of Hero-Worship, The Playwright as Thinker," "Bernard Shaw, What is Theatre?," "The Life of the Drama," "Theatre Of War, Brecht Commentaries, and Thinking about the Playwright." He has also edited "The Importance Of Scrutiny" (1964), a collection of pieces from a now defunct critical magazine, and "Thirty Years of Treason: Excerpts from Hearings Before the House Committee on Un-American Activities, 1938-1968 (1971)." His most-produced play, "Are You Now Or Have You Ever Been (more properly Are You Now or Have You Ever Been: The Investigations of Show-Business by the Un-American Activities Committee 1947-1958)," published in 1972, was based on the transcripts collected in "Thirty Years of Treason." Another play, "Lord Alfred's Lover," treats on Oscar Wilde.

Elizabeth Swados (Original Music) is perhaps best known for her Broadway and international smash hit Runaways, however she has composed, written, and directed for over 30 years. Some of her works include the Obie Award winning Trilogy at La Mama, Alice at the Palace with Meryl Streep at the New York Shakespeare Theater Festival, Groundhog, which was optioned by Milos Forman for a film, and a wide variety of Biblical musical adaptations. Her work has been performed on Broadway, off-Broadway, at La Mama, Brooklyn Academy Of Music, Carnegie Hall, and locations all over the world. She has also composed highly acclaimed dance scores for well-known choreographers in the US, Europe and South America.

Ms. Swados has been creating issue-oriented theater with young people for her entire career. This work has culminated in a theatrical extravaganza for New York University, The Reality Show, about the trials and tribulations of college in New York City. The piece uses rock and roll, dance and edgy humor and was performed last summer by NYU students at Madison Square Garden.

Recent productions include Atonement, a theatrical oratorio presented by the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, an adaptation of S. Ansky's The Dybbuk at NYU/Tisch, Spider Operas at PS122 (with Mabou Mines), Political Subversities, a political revue that has been presented in two Culture Project festivals as well as at Joe's Pub, and a workshop of Dance of Desire, a translation of Lorca's Yerma by Caridad Svich. Her opera KASPAR HAUSER: a foundling's opera enjoyed a seven week run at The Flea Theater in TriBeCa. She recently wrapped a new children's CD, Everyone is Different, in conjunction with Forward Face. The CD is circulating in schools around the country.

Ms. Swados has published novels, non-fiction books, children's books and poetry to great acclaim, and received the Ken Award for her book My Depression. Her theater textbook, At Play: Teaching Teenagers Theater, was published by Faber & Faber in June 2006. A new book of poetry, The One and Only Human Galaxy, will be published by Hanging Loose Press in Spring 2009. Awards: Five Tony nominations, three Obie Awards, Guggenheim Fellowship, Ford Grant, Helen Hayes Award, Lila Acheson Wallace Grant, PEN Citation, and others. Most recently Ms. Swados received a special grant to record musical selections from her years of work

The cast of THE GOOD WOMAN OF SETZUAN will feature: Alex Wright, Becca Cousineau, Benny Wills, Beth Robbins, Bill Jackson, Bruce Dickinson, Ehrin Marlow, Hannah Pierce, Jan Munroe, Jordana Berliner, Jennifer Richardson, Katherine Griffith, Lauren Lovett, Michael Franco, Phillip Brock, Robert George, Sarah Buster, Sullivan Brock and Tommy Burruss.

THE GOOD WOMAN OF SETZUAN will be produced by Caitlin Renee Campbell, Anne Marie Gillen and David Castellani and features an award-winning design team. The Scenic Design is by Richard Hoover. The Costume Design is by Christina Wright. The Lighting/Projection Design is by Charles Otte. The Sound Design is by Tim Labor.

ABOUT THE SCHEDULE AND PRICING

THE GOOD WOMAN OF SETZUAN will preview on Friday, May 28 at 8pm; Saturday, May 29at 8pm; Thursday, June 3 at 8pm and will open on Friday, June 4 at 8pm and run through Saturday, July 17 at The Open Fist Theatre, 6209 Santa Monica Blvd. in Hollywood.

Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm Sundays at 7pm. Ticket prices are $25; tickets for the opening night gala are $35. Students and Seniors $20. Previews are $15. Special group rates available for parties of 10 or more. For tickets, please call (323) 882-6912 for details or visit www.openfist.org to purchase tickets online or to view complete schedule.

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