Colby Minife, Daniel K. Isaac, Brian D. Coats, Blake DeLong, Larry Owens, and More Join Reading of RHINOCEROS, First Play In POLITICS OF THE ABSURD Series
By: Julie Musbach Jan. 25, 2018
Casting has been announced for Rhinoceros, the first play in the Politics of the Absurd reading series presented by Christopher Maring/ CM Stage Productions. Joining the reading will be Blake DeLong (Illyria; Othello; Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812), Larry Owens (Gigantic, FAT CAMP, Grease at the MUNY), Colby Minife (Six Degrees of Separation, Long Day's Journey Into Night, "Jessica Jones") Daniel K. Isaac ("Billions", "Search Party", Underland), Brian D. Coats (Jitney, "Boardwalk Empire", The Merry Wives of Windsor), Deirdre Madigan (Sweat, "Daredevil", Exit Strategy), and Natalie Walker (Puffs, "Search Party", Clockwork). Rhinoceros, written by Eugene Ionesco and directed by Srda Vesiljevic (Dust Can't Kill Me, When I Started Dating Men), will take place at the Baruch Performing Arts Center on February 5, 6, and 7.
It starts with two rhinoceroses (or was it the same one twiceD), rampaging through the quiet town square, a momentary disruption to daily life. Very soon there are more, grunting and snorting, running amok and destroying everything in their path. Berenger, a kindhearted drunkard, is determined to resist, even as more and more of those around him make the transformation - but what can one simple man do in the face of such a monstrous forceD
Romanian-French playwright Eugène Ionesco was one of the foremost figures of the French Avant-garde theatre. He wrote Rhinoceros in 1958 as a response to totalitarian movements in Europe and was influenced by the rise of fascism in Romania in the 1930's.
Hilarious, provocative, and timely, Politics of the Absurd reexamines rarely produced classics for a contemporary audience. The second reading in the series will be The Trial by Steven Berkoff, adapted from the novel by Franz Kafka from March 5-7. Directed by Adrienne Campbell-Holt (What We're Up Against, Dry Land), it follows the fate of an accused man amidst an inhuman bureaucracy and eroding civil rights. The final play will be The Hothouse by Harold Pinter, an exploration of what happens when the inmates run the asylum, which will run from April 5-7. Each reading will take place at Baruch Performing Arts Center, 55 Lexington Avenue. Additional casting will be announced shortly.
Politics of the Absurd is general managed by KGM Theatrical. Tickets start at $25 and are on sale now at www.BlueCaterpillarProds.com or the BPAC box office Tues-Sat from noon-6PM or by calling (212) 345-3101
Baruch Performing Arts Center
(enter on 25th Street between 3rd & Lexington Aves, south side of street)
POLITICS OF THE ABSURD ARTIST BIOS:
SRDA VASILJEVI is a Bosnian-American director. Born in Sarajevo, SrDa fled as a refugee during Bosnian War before moving to to Iowa, and later, New York City. SrDa has developed new work with theater companies such as The Flea, La MaMA, Dixon Place and Musical Theatre Factory. His work has been seen on and off Broadway, regionally and in international waters on Disney Cruise Lines. He has worked on the directorial teams of The Laramie Project Cycle at BAM, Deaf West's Broadway revival of Spring Awakening and the New York Spectacular starring The Rockettes at the legendary Radio City Music Hall. SrDa's experiential style draws inspiration from rave and party culture, as well as exploring queer, millennial and third-culture themes. SrDa's recent projects include the New York premiere of Holding The Man at The Center, the gay-party-play, When I Started Dating Men and the award-winning new folk musical, Dust Can't Kill Me. In addition to SrDa's directorial work, he has worked on the ENCORES! Off-Center Artists' Board and as a Creative Associate at Tom Kirdahy Productions, the producing powerhouse behind It's Only A Play, The Visit and White Rabbit, Red Rabbit. SrDa is the resident director of Theatre for One and a member of the Lincoln Center Director's Lab. www.sr-da.com
Christopher Maring founded CM STAGE PRODUCTIONS in 2016 with a focus on developing and producing new work. Prior to this, Christopher worked for award-winning producers Tom Hulce and Ira Pittleman where his credits include developing, producing, and managing Broadway productions and tours, including the original Tony Award-winning production of Spring Awakening, the critically acclaimed Green Day's American Idiot, and the re-imagined On A Clear Day You Can See Forever staring Harry Connick Jr., as well as several Off-Broadway productions and numerous readings and workshops. Independently, Christopher helped develop and produce Futurity, a new musical by César Alvarez (ART, Cambridge, MA and Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN) and was part of the early development of Hadestown, based on the album by singer-songwriter Anais Mitchell. Christopher was the recipient of the 2016 T. Fellowship for creative producers, co-founded by Hal Prince.
A division of CM Stage Productions, BLUE CATERPILLAR PRODUCTIONS reexamines classic plays and musicals to bring them to fresh life for a modern audience. Under the leadership of producer Christopher Maring, the company strives to present works that feel as vital, insightful, and engaging as when they were first created.
Daniel Kuney/ KGM THEATRICAL (General Manager) Credits include: Puffs (Off-Broadway), Rock of Ages (Broadway), Fela! (Broadway, Tours), Reasons to Be Pretty (Broadway), The 39 Steps (Broadway), The Homecoming (Broadway), Talk Radio (Broadway), Heathers (Off-Broadway), Altar Boyz (Off-Broadway), Dog Sees God (Off-Broadway), My Name is Rachel Corrie (Off-Broadway), In Masks Outrageous and Austere (Off-Broadway).
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