Emerging Directors Deconstruct Reality TV In THE REALITY PLAYS

Playhouse Creatures Theatre Company will produce THE REALITY PLAYS at The Flamboyan Theater on May 16-17. In this new work series, three emerging directors will trace the political and social impact of reality television by reinterpreting America's Next Top Model, The Jersey Shore, and The Real Housewives of New York City. They will collaborate with an ensemble of emerging designers to push the boundaries of form and dissect an American phenomenon.

"Mentoring and developing young artists is a key part of PCTC's mission," explains Producing Artistic Director Joseph W. Rodriguez. "In an era of shrinking funding for non-profit theatre, it's important to send the ladder back down to creators in the early stages of their careers. We're especially proud of our sustained collaboration with students from Pace University since 2015."

Previously for PCTC, Pace graduate Scott F. Davis directed several staged readings, assistant directed TW 1982 and One Flea Spare, and served as festival director for the 2017 Tennessee Williams Festival. Fellow Pace alum Dana Greenfield directed a piece for that festival and served as associate director for TW 1982.

"The ongoing support of an established theater company is a significant boost for young artists," says Davis. "We're grateful to PCTC for lending its resources and giving us the chance to explore and stretch our capabilities and visions in this laboratory format."

Three colorful plays will comprise the evening:

WE WERE ROOTING FOR YOU, created by Garrett Allen, explores how society perceives, creates, and manipulates the voices and relationships of black women.

THE RISE AND FALL OF Countess LuAnn de LESSEPS, created by Scott F. Davis, reimagines the reality star's fall from power and a subsequent new age of debauchery and mayhem.

THE PIVOT // THE JERSEY SHORE OPERA PROJECT, created by Dana Greenfield, presents The Jersey Shore as classical Italian opera and satirizes the lives of those who become millionaires by getting drunk on television.

THE REALITY PLAYS will be performed at The Flamboyan Theater at The Clemente Center (107 Suffolk Street, New York NY 10002) on May 16 and 17 at 7:30pm. Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3404583.

Playhouse Creatures Theatre Company is dedicated to strengthening the legacy of American theatre with dynamic, affordable programming that examines the influences of the past on the present and future of the art form. This season, the company has produced The Two-Character Play in association with Southern Rep (New Orleans) and continued its vital Little Creatures Act Out initiative for underserved youth. www.playhousecreatures.org

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