Primal Forces Announces GLAAD Winner Communion

Primal Forces (www.primalforces.com) explores today's cultural divide with the provocative play, Communion by Daniel MacIvor. The GLAAD-winning production features a lesbian psychiatrist, an alcoholic and her evangelical daughter who form a tense triangle. MacIvor's examination of women in modern-day society stars Jacqueline Laggy, Kim Ostrenko and Jenna Wyatt and is directed by Keith Garsson. Communion opens January 24, 2018 at Empire Stage.

"This play explores whether or not some bonds are too damaged to mend," explains Garsson. "Communion parallels much of what we are experiencing in today's society as the divisiveness in our nation is played out in families across the country. So, can we find common ground and repair the damage that has been done? Is what bonds us stronger than what divides us? This theme along with the intense mother/daughter relationship and the acceptance of sexuality are also interwoven throughout."

The distance between recovering alcoholic Leda and her Born-Again daughter is filled with silence, anger and humor. Upon the advice of a therapist dealing with her own host of troubles, Leda tries to bridge that distance and prepare her daughter for the calamity just ahead. Communion explores the dark places of relations and what is needed to repair a familial bond under the pressures of religion, recovery and a ticking clock.

The Cast:

Jacqueline Laggy has appeared in many South Florida theatre productions for the past sixteen years, most recently seen in Same Time Next Year at Broward Stage door and Sex with Strangers at Arts Garage in Delray Beach. She served as a Founding Board Member of The Women's Theatre Project. Some of her works there include The Lyons, Sunday on the Rocks, True Blue and Necessary Targets. Other recent productions include The Anarchist with Primal Forces, Brighton Beach Memoirs, The Whole Caboodle, Brooklyn Boy, Sylvia, Chapter Two, and Other People's Money.

Kim Ostrenko graduated from Florida International University with a Bachelor in Fine Arts in Theater and has worked in theater, commercials, film and TV ever since. She has been honored with two Carbonell Awards for Best Supporting Actress and three for Best Ensemble for her theater work. Among her more famous credits in TV and film are: Burn Notice, HBO's From the Earth to the Moon, Boynton Beach Club and Sex Drive.

Jenna Wyatt earned her BA in Theatre Performance from Western Michigan University. She went on to earn her MFA in Acting from Florida Atlantic University. Recently, Jenna worked with the Shakespeare Troupe of South Florida in their rendition of A Midsummer Night's Dream playing Helena, and in the Night of Fools, Clowns and Jesters. Some of her most memorable roles also include The Ghost of Christmas Present in A Christmas Carol, Cecily in The Importance of Being Earnest, Karen in August: Osage County, and Jean in Rhinoceros. In addition to acting, Jenna teaches various theatre classes at both FAU and Broward College, and works as a Voice/Dialect Coach. Last summer she was the Voice/Dialect coach for Sense and Sensibility at the FAU Summer Rep Theatre.

Daniel MacIvor (Playwright): In New York, writer of Marion Bridge: Urban Stages; writer/director of A Beautiful View: The Public Theatre Under the Radar Festival; writer/performer of Monster, Here Lies Henry, and writer/performer/director of In On It: PS 122; writer of Never Swim Alone (Overall Best of Fringe), and His Greatness: New York Fringe Festival; writer of The Soldier Dreams: Theatre East. He is the recipient of an OBIE Award and a GLADD Award. Daniel has often performed at the Wexner Center at OSU and at the Spoletto Festival in South Carolina.

Communion by Daniel MacIvor

January 24---February 11, 2018; Thu & Fri at 8pm, Sat at 7pm, Sun at 2pm

OPENING NIGHT: Friday, January 26;

Tickets: $30 www.primalforces.com

Empire Stage is located at 1140 N. Flagler Drive, Fort Lauderdale 33304

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