59E59 Theaters Lanches Scotland Week With THE PROMISE 3/29

59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer) welcomes Random Accomplice and the Scottish Government as part of Scotland Week with the US premiere of Douglas Maxwell's THE PROMISE, directed by Johnny McKnight. THE PROMISE begins performances on Tuesday, March 29 for a limited engagement through Sunday, April 17. Press opening is Sunday, April 3 at 7:00 PM. The performance schedule is Tuesday - Wednesday at 7:15 PM; Thursday - Friday at 8:15 PM; Saturday at 2:15 PM and 8:15 PM; and Sunday at 3:15 PM. Please note the performance time on Sunday, April 3 (Opening Night) is at 7:00 PM; there is no matinee performance. Tickets are $35 ($24.50 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or visit www.59e59.org.

Maggie Brodie (played by Joanna Tope) is a retired teacher who has been dragged back to her local primary school for a reluctant day of substitute teaching. Her craving for alcohol is strong and her opinion of her colleagues is rock bottom, so it's going to be a tough day. Then there's Rosie, a six year old Somalian girl who refuses to speak. Community leaders believe she is possessed and are on their way to start her 'treatment.' But Maggie, surprised by her connection to this girl, knows they are wrong. So wrong, that she is going to have to take drastic action.

Inspired by true events, THE PROMISE is "a 90 minute text of sustained brilliance...it sometimes threatens to take the breath away" (Joyce McMillan, The Scotsman). Don't miss this stunning debut from Scotland's Random Accomplice, kicking off Scotland Week here in New York.

THE PROMISE combines a soundtrack by Karen MacIver with integrated projections by Tim Reid. With set and costume design by Lisa Sangster and lighting design by Dave Shea.

Joanna Tope (Maggie Brodie) is one of Scotland's leading stage actresses. She obtained a degree in Drama at Manchester University under the watchful eye of Stephen Joseph who invited her to join his Theatre in the Round Company in Scarborough where she created the role of Ginny in Alan Ayckbourn's Relatively Speaking. Ten years of non-stop work followed with seasons at Pitlochry, Lincoln Theatre Royal in Philip Hedley's renowned company, Birmingham Repertory with Peter Dews, Manchester Stables Company and the Northcott at Exeter with Jane Howell. Between Bingo at the Royal Court with Sir John Gielgud and Glorious Miles at The Crucible in Sheffield Joanna met and married a wonderful man and came to live in Glasgow. Three children followed and much work at the Citizens Theatre, including Oedipus, A Taste of Honey, Peer Gynt and Cheri, The Royal Lyceum in Edinburgh in Death of a Salesman, A Christmas Carol and Dangerous Liaisons. She appeared in Frozen for Rapture Theatre and Wit for Stellar Quines.

Douglas Maxwell (playwright) 2010 saw three new plays tour Scotland: Promises Promises for Random Accomplice; The Miracle Man for the National Theatre of Scotland and a musical for Cumbernauld Theatre called The Bookie with music by Aly Macrae. His iconic play Decky Does A Bronco was also remounted by Gridiron for a major anniversary tour and his version of Wedekind's Spring Awakening was produced by Gridiron and The Traverse Theatre. Projects for the coming year include a new play for young performers called Too Fast for The National Theatre UK's New Connections project and a new piece of musical theatre called Watertight written with composer Richard Taylor and developed with Philip Howard and musical theatre students from the RSAMD. Other plays include Our Bad Magnet, Variety, If Destroyed True, Backpacker Blues, Melody, The Ballad of James Ii and Harm. His work for young people includes Helmet, Mancub and The Mother Ship. The Mother Ship won the Brian Way Award for best play for a younger audience 2009. He is currently the Writer in Residence for Dundee Rep.

Johnny McKnight (director) Trained RSAMD. Directing credits include Promises Promises, Marymassacre, Something Wicked (Random Accomplice); Snow White, Mother Goose (macrobert). Writing commissions include Little Johnny's Big Gay Wedding (National Theatre of Scotland/Random Accomplice), Little Johnny's Big Gay Musical, Little Johnny's Big Gay Adventure, Marymassacre (Random Accomplice); Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Mother Goose, Cinderella (macrobert). Forthcoming commissions include The Diet Diaries, Hold Weight and Shake and Jackie & The Beanstalk. Johnny is Co-Artistic Director of Random Accomplice Theatre Company.

Scotland Week is part of the Scottish Government's year round program of engagement in North America. Now in its fourth year, Scotland Week 2011 will run from April 3 - 10, and include Tartan Day on April 6. The purpose of Scotland Week is to raise awareness of Scotland as a modern, vibrant country and a great place to live, visit, work, study, do business and invest.

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