The Other Mirror to Premiere GODS AND KINGS, 09/5-9

Set in "Ancient Greece," GODS & KINGS is an original alt-rock musical that boldly brings to life the timeless fable of The Bacchae. The story centers on the conflict between the unyieldingly rational King Pentheus (Ben Garrett) and the wildly anarchic God Dionysus (Jonathan Grunert) as they struggle for influence and power over the people of Thebes. With music by Neil Douglas Reilly (Rocky, The Gershwins' Porgy & Bess) and book and lyrics by Austin Ruffer, the musical asks: Do people really have to live a life stuck between Gods and Kings?

Presented by The Other Mirror Theatre, LLC, GODS & KINGS features a cast of fifteen with several multi-instrumentalist ensemble members providing the backing for the score. "From first rehearsal to first performance we're treating the music more like an album of songs by a rock band than a score by theater writers; there's no conductor and no one's reading sheet music, the actors do it all themselves.", said Neil Douglas Reilly, the composer. Heath Saunders (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, I am Harvey Milk...), Kim Vogels (Under the Greenwood Tree, The Flea), Sam Weber (The Buddy Holiday Story-Natl Tour), and Wes Zurick make up the core band ensemble, each playing at least three instruments throughout the piece.

Director Katherine M. Carter (Artistic Director of The Other Mirror) has put together an impressive design team including Ben Williams (Production Manager at The Sheen Center) as the Lighting Designer, Sound Designer John Emmett O'Brein (Jericho at 59E59), and costumes by Caitlin Cisek (The Flea, Burning Coal, SRT) and Matthew Malone. GODS & KINGS will utilize the existing architecture of the double level Black Box as their set with the ensemble acting as Greek Chorus to build time and place.

GODS & KINGS will be presented at The Sheen Center Black Box at 18 Bleecker Street (Cross street: Elizabeth near the 6/B/D/M/F/N Trains) on Friday 9/5 8:00pm (Preview), Saturday 9/6 8:00pm (Opening), Sunday 9/7 at 3:00pm and 7:30pm, Monday 9/8 at 3:00pm at 7:30pm, and Tuesday 9/10 at 7:30pm. Tickets are $18 and are available through TheOtherMirrorTheatre.com

Full Cast: Ben Garrett* (King Pentheus), Jonathan Grunert (Dionysus), Elizabeth Ann Gray* (Agave), BJ Gruber* (Acoetes), Damian Norfleet* (Cadmus), Kyle Axman* (Ensemble), Paige Berkovitz (Ensemble), Anissa Felix (Ensemble), Emily Iaquinta* (Ensemble), Billy Joe Kiessling* (Ensemble), Heath Saunders* (Ensemble), Kim Vogels (Ensemble), Sam Weber* (Ensemble), Jessica Zambrotta (Ensemble), Wes Zurick (Ensemble)

*These Actors Appearing Courtesy of Actors' Equity Association

Creative Team: Katherine M. Carter (Director/Artistic Director of The Other Mirror), James Dobinson (Music Supervisor/Producer), Taylor Shubert (Choreographer), Ben Williams (Lighting Design), John Emmett O'Brien (Sound Design), Caitlin Cisek and Matthew Malone (Costume Design), Katie Kennedy (Production Stage Manager), Tom Kordenbrock (Assistant Stage Manager),

Diana Zambrotta (Producer), Chelsea Ignagni (Casting Director), Victoria Casillo (Associate Choreographer), Erin Reilly (Press Asst), Kyle Largent (Production Asst), Lindsay Rootare (Photos)

About The Other Mirror: The Other Mirror creates theatrical art based on event, text, or myth in order to reveal unrealized perspectives. We seek to better understand the world by building a new vocabulary through adaptation. The Other Mirror believes that new work must be created with an emphasis on social consciousness in order to affect change. We share our work through a new lens with a dynamic and fresh point of view. Past Productions: Going Away (2013), Bite the Apple (2012), Madame Bovary (2011)

For tickets, visit https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/cal/34409.

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