Photo Flash: The Lapsburgh Layover At Ars Nova

Ars Nova (Jason Eagan, Artistic Director; Jeremy Blocker, Managing Director) presents the world premiere of a new work by 2011 Ars Nova Artists-in-Residence, The Berserker Residents. The Lapsburgh Layover plays a limited Off-Broadway engagement September 1 - September 24, with Opening Night on Monday, September 12 at 7:00 PM.

The Berserker Residents, comprised of long-term collaborators Justin Jain, Dave Johnson, and Bradley K. Wrenn, bring their singular theatrical style to Ars Nova with the debut of The Lapsburgh Layover. The model citizens of the tiny, isolated country of Lapsburgh have prepared an exemplary theatrical entertainment to help their American guests to pass the time while their international flight refuels. More than just an ordinary layover, the performers seek to beguile and delight the new arrivals with Lapsburgh's many charms, but darker forces lurk just beyond the borders. This wildly theatrical, interactive theater piece has been in development at Ars Nova since 2009.

The Berserker Residents draw on bold physical performance styles, alternative comedy and
music in crafting and delivering compelling stories for the theater. With a commitment to thrilling
live performance, this Philadelphia-based company devises and produces original, ensembledriven work. Often site-specific and drawing upon audience interaction, the Residents' unique
blend of humor and horror has been showcased in productions including Philadelphia Fringe hits
The Jersey Devil (which appeared in Ars Nova's ANT Fest 2009), The Giant Squid and The
Annihilation Point (which also appeared at New York's Abrons Art Center in January 2011); and
The Very Merry Xmas Carol Holiday Adventure Show (Theater Horizon, December 2009). -2-
Director Oliver Butler is co-Artistic Director of The Debate Society, where he has developed and
directed seven new plays with writer/performers Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen, including Buddy
Cop 2, Cape Disappointment and The Eaten Heart. He is currently developing two new plays
with the company and is a 2011 Sundance Institute Fellow.

The Lapsburgh Layover features Justin Jain, Dave Johnson, Leah Walton and Bradley K.
Wrenn. Set Design is by Lisi Stoessel (The Annihilation Point). Costume Design is by Sydney
Maresca (Buddy Cop 2). Lighting Design is by Brian Tovar (Spidermusical). Sound Design is
by M.L. Dogg (The Pee Wee Herman Show).

Ars Nova awarded The Berserker Residents a commission to create this project in addition to
naming the company 2011 Artists-in-Residence. The project has been developed through Ars
Nova's Summer Artist Retreat and Next Step programs.

About Ars Nova:
Ars Nova is committed to developing and producing theater, comedy and music artists in the
Early Stages of their professional careers. Its unique development programs are designed to
support outside-the-box thinking and encourage innovative, genre-bending work. By providing a
safe environment where risk-taking and collaboration are paramount, Ars Nova gives voIce To a
new generation of artists and audiences, pushing the boundaries of live entertainment by
nurturing creative ideas into smart, surprising new work. For more information on Ars Nova's
programs, visit www.arsnovanyc.com. Ars Nova was founded in memory of Gabe Wiener.

Photo credit: Ben Arons

Dave Johnson, Justin Jain, Bradley K. Wrenn, Leah Walton

Bradley K. Wrenn, Leah Walton, Justin Jain, Dave Johnson

Dave Johnson, Bradley K. Wrenn, Oliver Butler, Leah Walton, Justin Jain

Dave Johnson, Bradley K. Wrenn, Justin Jain

Bradley K. Wrenn, Dave Johnson

Dave Johnson, Leah Walton, Bradley K. Wrenn, Justin Jain

Justin Jain, Dave Johnson, Bradley K. Wrenn