CAPTAIN FERGUSON’S SCHOOL FOR BALLOON WARFARE Takes Flight at 59E59, 8/23

59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer) welcomes Oracle Theatre, Inc. with the world premiere of CAPTAIN FERGUSON'S SCHOOL FOR BALLOON WARFARE, written by Isaac Rathbone and directed by Philip Emeott. CAPTAIN FERGUSON'S SCHOOL FOR BALLOON WARFARE begins performances on Tuesday, August 23 for a limited engagement through Saturday, September 3. Press opening is Thursday, August 25 at 7:30 PM. The performance schedule is Tuesday - Thursday at 7:30 PM; Friday - Saturday at 8:30 PM; and Sunday at 3:30 PM. There is an added performance on Saturday, September 3 at 2:30 PM. Tickets are $18 ($12.60 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or go to www.59e59.org.

On the eve of the US involvement in World War I, Captain Thomas Ferguson must transform a ragtag assembly of hayseeds and dropouts into a battalion of agile, tactically minded reconnaissance balloonists. Unconcerned about the tactical limitations of his balloons, and believing that the new "airplane" created by his friends Orville and Wilbur is a passing fad, Ferguson pitches himself and his men headlong against military convention, the German Army, and his superiors' orders. But with the Great War surging into France, Ferguson learns firsthand the price of hubris.

This hilarious and moving ode to patriotism and misguided genius was inspired by the true story of Captain Charles deForest Chandler, the first head of the Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps, which later became the United States Air Force. CAPTAIN FERGUSON'S SCHOOL FOR BALLOON WARFARE illuminates a period in American history not usually viewed from this angle - looking up.

David Nelson stars as Captain Ferguson. The design team includes James J. Fenton (set), Andrea Boccanfuso (lighting), Raquel Zarin (costume) and Zach Williamson (sound).

Isaac Rathbone's (playwright) work has been performed throughout New York City at venues such as Dixon Place, the Kraine Theatre, the Brecht Forum, the Abron's Arts Center, Teatro Iati, Theatre 54, the 14th Street Y LABA Theatre, the Secret Theatre, and the Brooklyn Lyceum. He has premiered works at various New York theatre festivals including the NYC Fringe Festival, the Sam French One-Act Festival, the 9/13 Project and the Harvest Festival. His true crime drama Little Eva premiered at the Otsego County Courthouse in Cooperstown, NY. As a result, he was a featured Eva Coo expert on Investigation Discovery's "Deadly Women" series. He is a founding member and Managing Director of Oracle Theatre Inc. and a graduate of Hofstra University.

Philip Emeott (director) has been working with Isaac and David On CAPTAIN FERGUSON'S SCHOOL FOR BALLOON WARFARE since its inception in 2009. He frequently works with Boomerang Theatre Company, for which he directed Uncle Vanya, King Lear, The Comedy of Errors, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and J.B. Priestley's Dangerous Corner. He got his degree in Drama and Communication from Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida, where he worked with the Limelight Theatre, as well as directing used car lot commercials. Philip has also directed for the Workshop Theater Co., Oberon Theatre Ensemble, NJ Repertory and the NY Fringe. He is currently completing a short film, Single Male Survivor, for Black Bag Pictures.

David Nelson (Captain Ferguson) originated the title role of CAPTAIN FERGUSON'S SCHOOL FOR BALLOON WARFARE in 2010 at Dixon Place. He has numerous theatrical credits to his name, both in New York and regionally. He starred in the Emmy winning HBO film The Art of Failure and produces his own viral sketch comedy under the name Digital Farmer, along with actor Brad Heikes. He has voiced several animation projects for director Rohitash Rao and Curious Pictures, including Rush Zone for Nickelodeon.

 

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