Cecilia Copeland's LIGHT OF NIGHT Makes World Premiere at IATI Theater, Now thru 10/27

IATI Theater has announced the World Premiere of Light of Night, written by Cecilia Copeland and directed by Mariana Carreño King. Light of Night will run for only 12 performances at IATI Theater (64 East 4th Street). Performances begin tonight, October 10th and continue through Sunday, October 27th. All performances will be in English.

Light of Night is the story of one woman's unraveling into a dark underworld of desire, power and abuse. Stephanie's charismatic husband, Jim, and seductive best friend Isabel compete for the limits of her identity. To emerge from the darkness and be free, Stephanie must abandon the world as it was handed to her. Raw, stripped down and verbally lucid, Light of Night is Vanguard Theater that lifts the veil on the psychology of oppression and offers up the fragile beauty of hope.

This modern "Poetic Realism" retelling of the Persephone myth captures layers of Latino identity, body image, and sexuality. The themes unearthed in the dynamic of abduction, paralleled to current cases like that of the Ariel Castro kidnappings in Cleveland, shed insight into the most confounding evil and show us the best of what can live within us all.

Cecilia Copeland is an emerging Latin American writer with a typically modern mixed identity having family from Panama, Costa Rica, Spain, Israel, Europe and the US. She considers herself a "Global Latina". In line with IATI Theater's mission of providing a platform for Hispanic and Latino writers, Artistic Director, Winston Estevez believes that "Light of Night is needed in our community. The play captures the complexity and contradictions, richness and depth, wonders and cruel radiance of experiences with in Latin American cultures. However, these themes are universal. And we felt this strongly written piece must be staged in our theater. We are happy to be the first to showcase Light of Night."

SPECIAL TALK BACKS:

October 12th, Playwright Talk-Back Moderated by Martin Denton of Indie Theater Now

Following the 8:00 p.m. performance on Saturday, October 12, Light of Night playwright Cecilia Copeland will take part in a special Post-Show Forum to discuss the play with audience members. This discussion is free for those in attendance that evening and takes place right in the newly remodeled space at IATI Theater.

October 23rd, Playwright Talk-Back on Latino Writers with José Rivera and Caridad Svich
Following the 8:00 p.m. performance on Wednesday, October 23, Light of Night playwright Cecilia Copeland will be joined by Oscar Nominee José Rivera and Lifetime Obie Award Recipient Caridad Svich to discuss "What Is Modern Latino Writing?"

Additional Talk-Backs TBA

Playwright, Cecilia Copeland is the founding Artistic Director of New York Madness. Her plays have been produced or staged at readings at the Culture Project, Cherry Lane Theatre, Ensemble Studios Theatre, HERE Arts Center, INTAR Theatre, The Anarchist Theatre Festival of Montreal, Stage Left Productions, The Private Theatre, and IATI Theater among others. Her full length play, The Wicked Son was named one of the "Top Three Best New Jewish Plays" by the Jewish Plays Project. She was a semifinalist for The O'Neill Playwrights Conference and The Emerging Playwrights Prize at The Marin Theatre as well as a finalist for the Mabou Mines Residency. She was awarded a "Special Effects Grant" from Metro Screen Australia for her one act which she adapted into the screenplay, Amusement Bomber. She is the recipient of the Lennis J. Holm Playwriting Scholarship from University of Iowa for her honors thesis, One Woman. Her work has been published by PM Press, The International Center for Women Playwrights, NoPassport Press and Amazon.com for The Gun Control Plays.

Mariana Carreño King's directing credits include American Jornalero, by Ed Cardona and Mala Hierba, by Tanya Saracho (Intar Theatre), The Purification, The Municipal Abattoir and Mr. Paradise, by Tennessee Williams (Cherry Pit and The Red Room), Welcome to the Funhouse, Pilgrim and Dinner with Jobita and la Chacha by Henry Guzmán (Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre) and The Cook, by Eduardo Machado (Bilingual production, Stages Repertory Theatre, Houston, TX). Mariana has also directed several readings and workshop productions with LAByrinth Theatre Company, New York University Tisch School of the Arts, The Lark, The 24 Hour Plays, The A Train Plays, Urban Artists and the 52nd Street Project. Mariana is also a writer and a translator.

CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM:

Florencia Lozano: Red Dog Howls (NYTW) Macbeth (Delacorte), Dirty Story (LAByrinth), Where's My Money? (LAByrinth/MTC), Massacre: Sing To Your Children (LAB/Public), Last Easter (MCC), Right You Are... (National Actors' Theatre), Privilege (Second Stage), Mimesophobia (SPF). Film & TV: The Ministers, Veronika Decides To Die, Perfect Stranger, Deception, "Guilty," "Blue Bloods," "Royal Pains," "Ugly Betty," "Lipstick Jungle," "Gossip Girl," Law & Order: CI, SVU," "One Life To Live" and "General Hospital" (Téa Delgado). Playwright: underneathmybed (Rattlestick 2010, HOLA's Best New Play Award) BUSTED (to be published as CINO nites play). Associate Artistic Director (for several years under Phil Hoffman and John Ortiz) and Member of LAByrinth Theater Company, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Usual Suspect. BA Brown University, MFA, NYU.

Ana Cruz Kayne (Stephanie) is known for her acting roles in Another Earth, Uncertainty and Exit Room.

Ed Trucco (Jim) has a rich repertoire of acting credits. Some of which include, Road to Esperanza, One Night Stand, Anifaz, and Maria Full of Grace.

The creative team includes G. Warren Stiles (Scenic Design), Name (Costume Design), Name (Lighting Design), Name (Sound Design), and Haydn Diaz (Stage Manager). PHOTO EDITORS: Digital images of Light of Night courtesy of Mariana Carreño King and Editing by Evan Sargent.

Tickets for Light of Night can be purchased online at www.iatitheater.org.

IATI THEATER (International Theater Arts Institute) is a New York-based, not-for-profit performing arts organization established in 1968, dedicated to perform and promote contemporary Latino heritage through full productions in theatre, music and dance, as well as staged readings and workshops, serving as a bridge between artists and underserved communities in its New York home, on national and international tours. The company makes arts accessible to all audiences, addressing contemporary issues of broad human interest and framing them in a strong cultural context of social impact that motivates introspection and social awareness. IATI is also devoted to the emergence of new artistic talents in the disciplines of theater, music, and dance, providing the training and encouraging fulfilling their dreams.

The show runs October 10th to 27th, 2013 at IATI Theater, 64 E. 4th Street (btwn. Bowery and 2nd Ave.)
@8pm/Oct: Thu 10; Fri 11; Sat 12; Thu 17; Fri 18; Sat 19; Wed 23; Thu 24; Sat 26
@3pm/Oct: Sun 13; Sun 20
@7pm/Oct: Sun 27
Tickets: $18 general admission, $15 students and seniors, TDF accepted.
Box office: 212-505-6757, www.iatitheater.org
Recommended for matured audiences.
Running time: 75 minutes.

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