Dave Malloy and Susan Turchin Set for Post-Show Events at Prospect Theater's TAMAR OF THE RIVER, 10/9 & 16

"Crossing The River", a discussion featuring interfaith leaders led by Reverend Susan Turchin, and "The Power of the Voice", a discussion with innovative contemporary theater composers hosted by Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812's Dave Malloy, will be offered as free post-performance events following upcoming performances of Prospect Theater Company's world premiere of TAMAR OF THE RIVER. The announcement was made today by Cara Reichel and Melissa Huber, the Producing Artistic Director and Managing Director of Prospect Theater Company.

On Wednesday, October 9, "Crossing the River" will feature a panel of interfaith leaders discussing ways we can reach across cultural boundaries and work for understanding and connection. The discussion is hosted by Reverend Susan Turchin (OneSpirit Learning Alliance, www.OneSpiritInterfaith.org).

On Wednesday, October 16, "The Power of the Voice" will feature a panel of contemporary theater composers discussing the role music can play in creating unique performance worlds and authentic theater experiences. The panel is hosted by Dave Malloy (Natasha, Pierre, and The Great Comet of 1812 / www.DaveMalloy.com).

Additionally, prior to certain performances, thirty-minute guided meditation sessions will be offered.

For details on dates and meditation leaders, as well as further information on discussion panelists, visit www.ProspectTheater.org.

TAMAR OF THE RIVER features music and book by Marisa Michelson, book and lyrics by Joshua H. Cohen, direction byDaniel Goldstein (Godspell) and choreography by Chase Brock (Picnic, Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark, The Blue Flower, The Cradle Will Rock at Encores, Venice at The Public Theater). This world premiere stars Margo Seibert (Saving Aimee, Circus in Winter at Playwrights Horizons, Next to Normal at the Weston Playhouse) as Tamar with Ako (Throne of Blood), Jeremy Greenbaum (The Fantasticks), Aaron Komo, Erik Lochtefeld (February House), Mike Longo (Hair) and Vince B. Vincent(Geography of Loss). The cast also features Jen Anaya, Adam Bashian, Margot Bassett, Troy Burton, Tamrin Goldberg andMary Kate Morrissey.

Scenic design is by Brett J. Banakis. Costume design is by Candida K. Nichols. Lighting design is by Brian Tovar. Sound design is by Jeremy J. Lee. Matt Aument is the musical director. Jason Najjoum is the casting director.

Performances continue through October 20 at the Baruch Performing Arts Center located at 55 Lexington Avenue in New York City.

Previously developed at the American Musical Voices Project: The Next Generation at Signature Theatre in Virginia, TAMAR OF THE RIVER has received commissioning and world premiere major support from The Ted & Mary Jo Shen Charitable Gift Fund.

Tickets for TAMAR OF THE RIVER are available by visiting www.ProspectTheater.org or by calling 212-352-3101. For more information, visit www.TamarOfTheRiver.com.

About TAMAR OF THE RIVER: TAMAR OF THE RIVER takes place in a war-torn world where the East and West are divided by a river red with blood. In this mythic landscape, one young woman is called to raise her voice. As Tamar sets out single-mindedly in pursuit of peace, she journeys to a foreign land, finding a new family and unexpected love. Inspired by the biblical story of Tamar, Cohen and Michelson bring to life an original new music theater work that illuminates the moral challenges inherent in the struggle for peace.

TAMAR OF THE RIVER is set in a fictional world, but has deep ties to contemporary real-world struggles, and will hold its first preview performance on the United Nations' International Day of Peace. Composer and Co-Bookwriter Marisa Michelsondescribes this connection: "Five years ago I was commissioned to conceive and write an original musical -- just a few months before traveling to Neve Shalom (oasis of peace), a village co-founded by Israeli Jews and Israeli Palestinian Arabs to demonstrate that the two peoples could live and work together peacefully. Neve Shalom was physically beautiful, emotionally moving, and spiritually inspiring. Our story has its roots in the book of Genesis, but the realities of today's world serve as contextual soil out of which the aesthetic, tone, and urgency of our story has grown."

Lyricist and Co-Bookwriter Joshua H. Cohen adds: "While TAMAR OF THE RIVER is intended to be a universal tale, rather than an allegory for any specific national conflict, it draws its milieu from the landscape of violence that seems to stretch forever in all directions, past and future -- and its inspiration from the small acts of hope and bravery undertaken by people on both sides of conflict, every day."

Prospect Theater Company is one of America's leading producers of new musical theater. Since 2000, the company has fully produced more than 20 premiere musicals in New York City, in addition to two new plays and numerous re-inventions of classic works. Year-round, Prospect supports developmental opportunities for emerging musical theater writers, especially through our annual musical theater lab. Prospect was founded in 1998 by five graduates of Princeton University in order to allow a diverse group of emerging theater professionals to work together in pursuit of artistic excellence and innovation. The company membership now includes a network of almost 1,000 affiliated artists. Notable productions include: the Drama Desk Award-winningWorking - A Musical (2012), Unlock'd (2013), Iron Curtain (2006, 2011), Myths and Hymns (2012), Cole Porter's NYMPH ERRANT (2012), With Glee (2010), The Blue Flower (2008), Golden Boy of the Blue Ridge (2009), The Hidden Sky (2010), Illyria (2002, 2008), and the Drama-Desk nominated The Pursuit of Persephone (2005).

JOSHUA H. COHEN (Lyricist and Co-Bookwriter) Joshua H. Cohen's honors include a Jonathan Larson Grant (with Marisa Michelson), the Anna Zornio Children's Theatre Playwriting Award for his lyrics to Keep On Walkin', the Chameleon Theatre Circle New Play Award for the musical Ordinary Island (music and lyrics), and a MAC Award nomination for his cult cabaret hit "The Sacrifice of Love" (a.k.a. the waxing song). His play The Thirteenth Commandment (semifinalist, Princess Grace and Playwrights First Awards) had its world premiere with Libra Theater Company this year. Member, Dramatists Guild; 2008-10 Fellow, American Lyric Theatre's Composer-Librettist Development Program; August 2012 CAP21 Writers Residency. BA: Amherst College, MFA: NYU-GMTWP.

Marisa Michelson (Composer and Co-Bookwriter) A composer, singer and singing teacher, Marisa is in-love with, entranced by, and passionate about the human capacity to sing. She received a 2011 Jonathan Larson Award and 2009 "American Musical Voices: The Next Generation" Award from the Shen Family Foundation. Musicals include Tamar of the River (Signature Theatre; Prospect Theater Company); Scheherazade written with Jason Grote (York Theatre); The Grid (NAMT Residency with Millikin University); Still Life with Toe Shoes (Old Deerfield Productions; Emerson College); Hotel Sarajevo (CAP 21; hotInk Festival; Smith College); The Lovers (Prospect Theater Company; Vineyard Playhouse on Martha's Vineyard; Calliope Theatre Company.) Residencies/commissions/awards: Theatreworks, Palo Alto, New Dramatists, Montclair University, Kennedy Center, St. Botolph Award.

Daniel Goldstein (Director) is the director of the Broadway revival of Godspell (2011). His recent projects include Anna Christie (Old Globe), God Of Carnage (Huntington Theater Company), ...Samantha Brown (Goodspeed Musicals), Golden Boy (Juilliard), Annie (St. Louis Muny), Aritficial Fellow Travelerby Ethan Sandler (Williamstown Theater Festival, Black Dahlia Theater Open Door Theater), Clear (O'Neill National Music Theater Conference), True West(Williamstown Theater Festival), Miss Margarida's Way (Bay Street Theater, with Julie Halston), A New Brain at the Toho Theater in Tokyo, The Unauthorized Autobiography Of Samantha Brown (Broadway Across America developmental production), Mary's Wedding at the Two Rivers Theater, and many more. He is a graduate of Northwestern University with a degree in Performance Studies.

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