LOLA AND THE PLANET OF GLORIOUS DIVERSITY Begins Tonight at Alchemical Theatre

A large, diverse cast will present LOLA AND THE PLANET OF GLORIOUS DIVERSITY, by award-winning New York playwright Robin Rice Lichtig, at Alchemical Theatre in Manhattan tonight, March 11 through 15.

LOLA is an ensemble play with music and movement, directed and choreographed by Marcus Yi. The playwright and director are very pleased to be working with a cast that includes Asian, African-American, Hispanic and Caucasian actors.

The cast of 12 will tell the often humorous, magical story of how six young people attempt to create a new world after the one we know has been destroyed. They are scarred, struggling forward with only what they carry on their backs and what they can individually contribute. Lola's suggested contribution is met with a chorus of No! Her skill at ice skating skill isn't very useful either.

Lichtig and Yi are excited to be working in the new Alchemical Theatre Laboratory space at 104 W. 14th Street. Lichtig explains that the 23 by 40 foot white space is like a blank canvas on which the fantastical world of LOLA will be painted with words, light, movement and music. Presenting LOLA in a black box would strangle the story, she says. The audience will be seated around the performance area.

The cast: Carlos Angulo, Alex Acevedo, Angelita Esperanza, Bonita Jackson, Sammi Katz, Amy Mack, Devin McDuffee, Bailey Newman, Sarah Sutliff, Thanh Ta, Lorraine Tai and Christina Toth.

Sound design is by Andy Evan Cohen. Lights by Jennie Rodriguez. Costume design by Joanna Pan. Stage management by Brendan Carmody.

Tickets for LOLA AND THE PLANET OF GLORIOUS DIVERSITY are available at https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/942950 and at the door. March 11-14 at 7:30; March 15 at 2:30 at The Alchemical Theatre Laboratory, 104 W. 14th Street, 3rd floor. No wheelchair access. For further information: www.dramamama.net.

New York playwright Lichtig is the author of 19 full-length and over 50 one-act plays produced world-wide. Her writing has been called "innately musical" by noted playwright Maria Irene Fornes. Her stern look at childhood, PLAY NICE!, ran at 59E59 Theatre (Ego Actus production) and THE POWER OF BIRDS was onstage in NYC with 3Graces Theatre Company. ALICE IN BLACK AND WHITE, which premiered in Louisville with Looking for Lilith Theatre Company, will be produced in NYC in 2016. Lichtig has received many awards, including Jane Chambers, Goshen Peace Play, and StageWrite Women's Theatre Initiative. Her plays are published by French, Indie Theater Now, Applause, Smith & Kraus and others. She is a member of Articulate Theatre Company, the Dramatists Guild, the League of Professional Theatre Women and a current cohort member of America-in-Play. www.dramamama.net

Director/choreographer Marcus Yi, originally from Singapore, is an award winning writer/director/performer based in New York. He has created work in Singapore, Atlanta and New York and is the artistic director of Living Room Theater. He has worked on over 100 productions. His recently created works include Micro Shrimp The Musical (Winner of 11th Annual NJ Playwrights Contest), 29x/y (WIld Project, Paradise Factory), Pretty Little Mouth (Roy Arias), The Procedure (Gene Frankel Theater), The Ephemeral Lightness of Dreams: the dream plays (Lynn Redgrave Theatre), Thicker Than Water: the blood plays and Baby Baby!. His work has been seen at the Midtown International Theater Festival, Planet Connections Theater Festivity, Fresh Fruit Festival and the Midwinter Madness Theater Festival. Marcus was named one of Indie Theater Now's 2014 People of the Year.

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