Magenta Giraffe Theatre Company's SAINT JOAN to Open 10/18

Magenta Giraffe Theatre Company of Detroit presents Saint Joan, by George Bernard Shaw, adapted and directed by Matthew Turner Shelton. The show runs from October 18-November 9, 2013. Tickets are $15-$18, with pay-what-you-can tickets available to all performances. Tickets may be reserved by phone at 313-408-7269 or at www.magentagiraffe.org. Saint Joan will be Magenta Giraffe's fourth production in residence at the Abreact Performance Space (1301 W. Lafayette, #113, Detroit, MI 48226). As the space is very intimate, reservations are strongly suggested.

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?

Shelton states, "I want to present a classical piece that is not only contemporary in subject matter, but also appeals to anyone committed to the ongoing battle to maintain historical Detroit, and the growth of its artistic community".

George Bernard Shaw said in his epic preface to Saint Joan, "Joan was born an illiterate peasant. Yet, she understood the political and military situation in France much better than most of our newspaper fed university women-graduates understand the corresponding situation of their own country today". What Shaw was trying to illustrate was how poverty and desperation is truly understood through experience, rather than analysis. As a theatre, Magenta Giraffe has strived to explore the human condition through new and inventive works from this perspective, as well as keeping local artists interested in Detroit as a soundboard for original voices.

The cast of Saint Joan includes Dax Anderson (Hamtramck), Patrick O'Connor Cronin (Bloomfield Hills), Jonathan Davidson (Detroit), Keith Kalinowski (Ypsilanti), Michael Lopetrone (Ferndale), and Allison Megroet (Berkley). Scenic Design is by Gwen Lindsay (Grosse Pointe), and costumes are by Lauren Montgomery (Dearborn).

Magenta Giraffe Theatre Company's production of Saint Joan will take place at the Abreact Performance Space: 1301 W. Lafayette, #113, Detroit, MI 48226. Reservations are available via phone at 313-408-7269, at www.magentagiraffe.org, or at the door the day of the performance. Cash or check preferred, but credit cards will be accepted. Tickets are $18/$15 Student/Senior/Industry, and are also available on a pay-what-you-can basis at all performances.

Saint Joan will run Fridays at 8:00 pm and Saturdays at 8:00 pm. There will be one matinee at 3:00 pm on Sunday, November 3. Dates and times are:

Friday, October 18, at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 19, at 8:00 p.m.
Friday, October 25, at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 26, at 8:00 p.m.
Friday, November 1, at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 2, at 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 3, at 3:00 p.m.
Friday, November 8, at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 9, at 8:00 p.m.

Audience members paying the full ticket price may wish to take advantage of our "Repeat Offender" offer: If you've paid the suggested rate for a ticket and would like to see the show a second, third or fourth time (we love those who love theatre!) bring back a customer paying the same rate each time and see it free of charge!

Photo by Chuk Nowak

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