Feature: PRIMAL FORCES RETURNS at EMPIRE STAGE AND ANDREWS LIVING ARTS CENTER

Primal Forces returns with a new season of provocative plays as Keith Garsson brings dark and edgy works to Empire Stage and Andrews Living Arts.

Primal Forces, the theatrical Production Company focusing on dark and edgy subject matter returns to Fort Lauderdale this fall with a brand-new season focusing on, what else? Sex! The 2017-2018 season will consist of three new plays, including the world-premiere of Speed Queen written by international cabaret star, Phoebe Legere.

"After one and a half seasons of success at Arts Garage, we are thrilled to return to our roots using the intimate spaces of Andrews Living Arts and Empire Stage. It's an honor to be working with all this talent, including Ms. Legere who has a wealth of recordings, plays and movies to her credit," said Garsson, who founded Primal Forces in March of 2014.

In 2016, with Garsson at the helm, Arts Garage garnered two Silver Palm Awards, and two Carbonell Award Nominations for Elizabeth Price in Reborning and Avery Sommers in The Devil's Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith. Arts Garage patrons were therefore understandably surprised when incoming CEO, Marjorie Waldo, abruptly cancelled the theatre season without notice. Local audiences may be happy to find that Garsson has found a new home for his theatrical vision not so far from his previous location in Delray Beach in Ft. Lauderdale.

The season kicks off on July 31 at Andrews Living Arts with a reading of Ayn's Sister, the event will be part of the Theater League's Summer Festival. The "Ayn" of the title referring to Ayn Rand, the controversial author whose book Atlas Shrugged continues to influence new generations. Set against the nation's "crisis of confidence" during Jimmy Carter's presidency, the reading stars Laura Turnbull, Todd Allen Durkin and Janet Weakley. There will be one performance of Ayn's Sister on July 31 at 7:30. Admission to this production is free. Tickets to the rest of the season (listed below) are on sale and available at www.primalforces.com.

The Good Girl by Emilie Collyer at Andrews Living Arts

October 13-October 29

Thu & Fri at 8pm, Sat at 7pm, Sun at 2pm

This is the Southeastern premiere of The Good Girl, a post-apocalyptic, dystopian comedy with a "...provocative script...[a] clever examination of sex, longing, memory, gender roles and violence." (The New York Times.) Amber Lynn Benson and Jovon Jacobs topline this short piece at Andrews Living Arts.

Speed Queen by Phoebe Legere at Empire Stage

January 26---February 11

Thu& Fri at 8pm, Sat at 7pm, Sun at 2pm

Details about the world-premiere of Speed Queen written by international recording star and cabaret artist Phoebe Legere will be announced in late August. But rest assured, it will be exciting as the prolific musician, songwriter and Pulitzer Prize nominee dominates every genre she pursues. Legere blurs the lines between music composition, visual art, performance, community organizing and political activism. She has appeared on National Public Radio, CBS Sunday Morning, ABC, NBC, PBS and Charlie Rose. She has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and at the Congrés Mondial Acadien. In 2014 Phoebe, received the prestigious Acker Award for Excellence in the Arts in 2015 Legere appeared on HBO's documentary It's Me, Hilary which was produced by Lena (Girls) Dunham and currently she is promoting her new album release, Heart of Love.

An Accident by Lydia Stryk at Empire Stage

May 4-May 20

Thu& Fri at 8pm, Sat at 7pm, Sun at 2pm

The Southeastern premiere of An Accident stars Elizabeth Price as Libby, a young woman who, after a near fatal car accident, is visited by the perpetrator. "Her recovery parallels the context of their wary, confrontational and erotically charged interactions." (San Francisco Chronicle.)

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