THE WINNING SIDE Extends Off-Broadway Through 11/4

Epic Theatre Ensemble announces it has extended its initial limited run of the world premiere of The Winning Side, the acclaimed new play by James Wallert, by popular demand. The Winning Side initially began previews on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 and officially opened on Monday, October 8, 2018 at The Acorn Theatre of Theatre Row (410 West 42nd St.), a program Building for the Arts NY, Inc. It will now play through Sunday, November 4, 2018.

on the true story of Wernher von Braun, Chief Rocket Engineer for the Third Reich and one of the fathers of the United States space program, The Winning Side explores the hidden history behind America's 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing.

"When we first got ahold of James's play, we knew we had a riveting piece of theater on our hands," said Messrs. Wallert and Russell and Ms. Friedman. "But it wasn't until we put this in front of audiences that we understood the level of intellectual and emotional engagement it would spark. The post-show conversations are consistently some of the most passionate, lively, and nuanced that we've ever witnessed, and we are thrilled to keep this dialogue going."

The Winning Side has had a special guest line-up after every performance giving post-show talkbacks. These have been guest experts in the fields of history, science, politics, engineering and technology. These talks are an important part of Epic Theatre Ensemble's mission to promote vital discourse. Audience members are invited to stay after every show for these lively and fascinating discussions that revolve around the play's subject matter.

The guest line-up continues as follows (with more to be added with the show's extension):

• Thursday October 18, 8PM: Cecilia Rubino, Chair of the Theatre Department at Eugene Lang College/ The New School
• Friday October 19, 8PM: Julian Zelizer, CNN contributor, Professor of History at Princeton University, and author of Arsenal of Democracy: The Politics of National Security - From World War II to the War on Terrorism
• Saturday October 20, 8PM: Shira Mitchell, NYC Mayor's Office of Data Analytics
• Sunday October 21, 3PM: Gabriel Cwilich, Professor of Physics at Yeshiva University
• Thursday October 25, 8PM: S. Matthew Liao, Arthur Zitrin Professor of Bioethics at NYU and author of Moral Brains: The Neuroscience of Morality
• Friday October 26, 8PM: Teasel Muir-Harmony, Curator at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

The Winning Side will star Sullivan Jones ("The Looming Tower") as Wernher von Braun, Melissa Friedman (Hannah and Martin) as Margot, Godfrey L. Simmons, Jr. (Einstein's Gift) as Major Taggert and Devin E. Haqq (Macbeth: Born with Teeth) in multiple roles. It will be directed by Ron Russell (Epic co-founder and executive director)

As the preeminent face and voice of space exploration on television during the 1950's and 60's, von Braun was one of the most famous men in the world. But because of his complicated legacy, he's largely been left out of the history books. With The Winning Side, Wallert creates an accessible theatrical experience for audiences of all ages that re-examines this forgotten figure of the space race, and asks challenging questions about our contemporary views of science, technology, politics, and ethics.

The creative team includes: Chika Shimizu (set/projections designer), Cat Tate Starmer (lighting designer), Betsy Rugg-Hinds (costume designer) and Ron Russell (sound designer).

Tickets are $45 for all seats and can be purchased at http://www.epictheatreensemble.org/the-winning-side/.

Wallert was inspired by the biography, Von Braun: Dreamer of Space, Engineer of War by Michael J. Neufeld, Senior Curator, Space History Department at The National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution. Neufeld said: "The Winning Side" takes the facts of Wernher von Braun's life in Nazi Germany and the United States and artfully mixes them with fiction to produce a stimulating theatrical experience that asks fundamental moral questions about his Nazi past and the American decision to bring him over. It is a valuable experience for students and adults, provoking debates about morality and history."

Photo Credit: Carol Rosegg