Magenta Giraffe Kicks Off 2013-14 Season - SAINT JOAN, LOVE IS STRANGE and More!

Magenta Giraffe Theatre Company of Detroit has announced its sixth season of productions and projects, in residence at the Abreact Performance Space in Detroit. Following its popular and critically acclaimed past five seasons, the company is finding new ways to enhance and enrich the community through theatre. This season Magenta Giraffe offers new work from three local playwrights: one adaptation of a classic and two original scripts, both of which were first seen by audiences at the company's recent staged reading festival. Magenta Giraffe also welcomes new and familiar faces to its staff and board of directors.

2013-14 Season of Productions and Projects

The first show of the season is Saint Joan by George Bernard Shaw, adapted and directed by Associate Artistic Director Matthew Turner Shelton, from today, October 18-November 9, 2013. As a young girl from the French countryside seeks to rally the people and army of France behind her, she unites many while arousing suspicion and anger among others. In this new adaptation, a familiar story can be seen through the lens of Detroit's history; as we continue to search for effective leadership, divisions old and new come into play. What are we looking for in a leader? Who is going to "save" Detroit?

A Play By Franco Vitella, a new piece from local playwright Franco Vitella, follows from January 31-February 22, 2014. Directed by Jonathan Davidson, this zany play follows a team of actors, director and crew as they repeatedly try and fail to stage a new play by Franco Vitella. The problem is that Franco has no clear vision for his play. Nothing he writes seems to be working, and frustrations are mounting. This unusual piece breaks down theatrical barriers by blending characters with their real-life counterparts and examining what it means to be an actor, writer, and audience member. Magenta Giraffe welcomes its audience to take part in developing this new piece not only by seeing the show, which will itself be a process, but by contributing feedback afterward.

March of 2014 will see Magenta Giraffe producing its 6th Annual Staged Reading Festival featuring Michigan playwrights. This annual event, which has led to a number of scripts being further developed and then produced by regional theatres, is a unique opportunity for the audience to get involved in the process of playwrighting. Exact dates will be announced later in 2013.

The final production of the season is Sean Paraventi's Love is Strange, from April 4-26, 2014. This twisted love story, from the playwright who previously brought The Current to the Magenta Giraffe audience, explores a heartfelt but deeply disturbed relationship between two lovers with a horrifying hobby. As the story reaches its climax, everything we think we know about victims and predators is called into question, and we are forced to look for answers in our own dark places. This play contains mature content that may be shocking to some audience members. No minors will be admitted without a parent present.

Performance schedules of all three shows will be Fridays at 8:00 p.m. and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. Each production will feature one Sundaymatinee. Tickets will be $18 General Admission and $15 Student/Senior/Industry, with pay-what-you-can tickets available to all performances. Please visit www.magentagiraffe.org or e-mail info@magentagiraffe.org for more information.

The company will also continue its innovative Shakespeare in Prison program at Women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility in Ypsilanti, Michigan, beginning in September 2013. More information on this and other projects will be forthcoming.

All productions will take place at the Abreact Performance Space at 1301 W. Lafayette, #113, Detroit, MI 48226. For more information or to reserve tickets, call 313-408-7269 or visit www.magentagiraffe.org.

New Staff

Magenta Giraffe welcomes previous board member Jessica Tiernan as Managing Director and Matthew Turner Shelton as Associate Artistic Director.

Jessica is a native Michigander who fell in love with the arts early. She graduated with a Bachelors of Design in Graphic Design from the Ontario College of Art & Design (now OCAD University). She has published research on the sustainability of the publishing industry. She is currently a graphic designer. And now with Magenta Giraffe!

"I'm excited to start my new role with Magenta Giraffe Theatre Company," says Tiernan. "I'm happy to continue working with a company that is not only working to promote local artists, but also finds a way to help heal some of our social ailments through art. I can't wait to make the programs and our company even more established, but to also bring new programs and energy to the Detroit community."

Matthew Turner Shelton studied Playwriting and Musical Theatre Performance at Western Michigan University, with a Fellowship in Creative Writing from Wayne State University. In 2011, he was appointed Literary Manager for The Ringwald Theatre in Ferndale, while appearing in productions such asTrainspotting, The Little Dog Laughed, and Love! Valour! Compassion! Since moving home, Matthew has worked on various productions and staged readings with Waterworks Theatre Co., Planet Ant Theatre, The Abreact, Performance Network, and Jewish Ensemble Theatre.

"I'm ecstatic to be working with Magenta Giraffe," says Shelton. "Ever since I heard their mission statement, and how they stressed establishing a stronger, healthier theatre district in the city of Detroit, I immediately wanted to know how I could contribute to that vision. Through projects like Shakespeare in Prison I've seen this company illustrate that theatre is not only as politically relevant as ever, but a fundamental social benefit to Detroit's community. It makes me very proud to be a member of the Detroit theatre family."

New Board Members

Magenta Giraffe welcomes five new members to its board of directors. Coming from a diverse array of backgrounds, all of these people make excellent additions to the Magenta Giraffe team and are very excited to be a part of Detroit theatre in this capacity. These new members are Bethany Hedden, Sally Jane Kerschen-Sheppard, Maggie Patton, Nicholas Rowley and Jillian Zylinski. Continuing board members are Katie Casebolt, Lauren Montgomery and Barbie Amann Weisserman.

ABOUT Magenta Giraffe Theatre Company - The Magenta Giraffe Theatre Company is a nonprofit organization that acts to eliminate apathy, violence, prejudice and barriers to education through theatre productions, projects and programs; and further acts to reestablish and expand Detroit's theatre district.

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