DIG INFINITY! Gets Staged Reading as Part of Planet Connections Theatre Festivity, 6/13

His Royal Highness Lord Richard Buckley (1906-1960) was the hippest flipster, the coolest cat and a truly original performer. A combination jazz comedian, storyteller, philosopher and rapper, he was known for his unusual cadence, which combined beatnik slang and the King's English into one-of-a-kind monologues, drawing on sources ranging from biblical stories to Shakespeare soliloquies, many of which have became legends of the American comedy pantheon.

Apocalypso Theatre Collective offers a new generation a chance to rediscover the man at a staged reading of Dig Infinity! at the Gene Frankel Theatre, located at 24 Bond Street, on Thursday, June 13th at 11am as part of the 5th Annual Planet Connections Theatre Festivity. The Festivity will take place from May 29th - June 23rd at the Gene Frankel and Robert Moss Theatres.

In a surreal radio station on the midnight after his death, Lord Buckley spins out his life story to a DJ named Orpheus while demonstrating his unique stylized material. As the two talk, a dialogue interspersed with multiple flashbacks to various points in Lord Buckley's life, the conversation shifts into a discussion about the importance of truth and art, a topic which includes a trip to Hades and a cameo by God himself as it becomes increasingly apparent that Lord Buckley is bargaining for his very soul.

Dig Infinity! is written and directed by Oliver Trager, author of Dig Infinity! The Life and Art of Lord Buckley. A writer, editor and teacher, Trager's other books include The American Book of the Dead: The Definitive Grateful Dead Encyclopedia and Keys to the Rain: The Definitive Bob Dylan Encyclopedia.

Dig Infinity! will be performed at the Gene Frankel Theatre, located at 24 Bond Street (between Lafayette Street and Bowery), on Thursday, June 13th at 11am. Admission is Free but requires a reservation. For Reservations call: 866-811-4111 or go to http://planetconnections.org/dig-infinity/. The running time for the reading is approximately 90 minutes. The closet subway stop is Broadway and Lafayette Station: 6, F, M, B & D train.

The cast of Dig Infinity! features Oliver Trager, Russell Jordan*, Katie Baker*, Michael Fiorillo, Ian Finkel, Ridley Parson* and David Lamberton*. The production features music by performed John Kruth; musical consultancy by David Amram; scenic design & lighting design by Eric Feldman & Leyla Modirzadeh.

This staged reading of Dig Infinity! will benefit Democracy Now!, a national, daily, independent, award-winning news source which provides audiences with access to people and perspectives rarely heard in the U.S. corporate-sponsored media. Democracy Now! hosts real debates-debates between people who substantially disagree, such as between the White House or the Pentagon spokespeople on the one hand, and grassroots activists on the other.

Planet Connections Theatre Festivity is New York's premiere eco-friendly theatre festival. Fostering a diverse cross-section of performances, the festival seeks to inspire artists and audiences both creatively and fundamentally, in a festive atmosphere. At the heart of the festivity are like-minded individuals striving to creative professional, meaningful theatre, while supporting organizations, which give back to the community at large.

* - member of Actors' Equity Association

Pictured: Russell Jordan (Orpheus), Oliver Trager (Lord Buckley)

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