Direct from Edinburgh & Capital Fringe Festivals, SANCTUARY Opens Jan 7th at LION THEATRE

Using heart-wrenching emails from soldiers in Iraq along with TV news footage and Rumi & WW I poetry, Sanctuary a new play written and performed by theater and film actress Susanne Sulby, will play a limited engagement January 3 through 23rd at Off Broadway's Lion Theatre (410 West 42nd Street). Staged by veteran director Stephen Stahl, the play will intrigue theatre audiences with a poignant and touching look on the impact of war on women over the centuries. The multi-character play features a suburban housewife, a TV news reporter (inspired by CNN correspondent Christiane Amanpour), and a P.O.W. in Kosovo -- among other characters. Having received acclaimed productions at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the Capital Fringe (Washington DC) earlier this season, Sanctuary will have an official press opening Thursday, January 7th at 6:30PM.

After being emotionally moved by the Serbo-Croatian conflict in the 1990's and the 9/11 tragedy, Sulby was inspired to write Sanctuary from her relationship with television news and its ability to bring the journeys of those surrounded by war into her home. The heart-felt stories made her question her own various roles as a woman in these conflicts --- as the observer, victim, mother, and wife. She watched, from the comfort of her Pennsylvania home, a passive participant, as its horrors unfolded. "I was compelled to watch but struggled to understand the bleak absurdity of this slaughter. Although I was mesmerized by the news coverage, I initially felt impotent to respond. I searched so I could find my own path to sanctuary, simply put action, however small," says Sulby.

Sanctuary will feature scenery designed by Peter Tupitza, costumes designed by Heather Stanley, lights designed by Ryan J. O'Gara along with projections designed by Olivia Sebesky.

An established actor, designated Linklater voice instructor, dialect coach and voiceover artist, Ms. Sulby has performed for over 20 years. Favorite roles include Gertrude in Hamlet with Rev Theatre, Aunt Bobbie in American Sligo with New City Stage Company, Yelena in Black Russian with InterAct Theatre , Molly Bloom in A Dublin Bloom based on James Joyce's Ulysses , directed by Gregory Doran of the Royal Shakespeare Company and Queen Elizabeth in Richard III with Novel Stages. Her first film role was playing opposite Billy Crudup in the 2000 award-winning Evenstar feature film, Jesus' Son. Her film credits as dialect coach include the recent feature film, Silver Linings Playbook (nominated for 8 Academy Awards) directed by David O. Russell, starring Bradley Cooper, Robert DeNiro and Jacki Weaver.

Fresh from having penned and staged last season's Off Broadway hit musical "Lady Day" starring Dee Dee Bridgewater, Stephen Stahl comes to Sanctuary as a seasoned writer and director. His production, directorial and industrial credits include numerous professional stage shows, award-winning films and a decade of writing, producing and directing the Philadelphia Music Awards. Mr. Stahl has directed, written for, produced and worked with Billy Joel, Bill Cosby, Patti LaBelle, Kathy Sledge, Sandy Duncan, Jason Bateman, Phyllis Hyman, Kitty Kallen, Hall & Oates, Grant Shaud, Julie Gold, Clint Holmes, Bobby Rydell, Divine, Peggy King, Teddy Pendergrass and many others.

Sanctuary will play the following schedule: Mondays at 7PM & Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8PM with matinees on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2PM & Sundays at 3PM. Running time: 80 minutes. Tickets are $49. Military/Veterans/Student $20 RUSH tickets are available at the box office with ID the day of the performance. For more information about the production log onto: www.sanctuarytheplay.com . For tickets call (212) 239-6200.

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