Ma-Yi Theater Announces Complete Casting For FRUITING BODIES

Ma-Yi Theater Company - which previously announced that Shelley Butler will direct the world-premiere play FRUITING BODIES by Asian-American playwright Sam Chanse - proudly announces Kimiye Corwin (Noises Off, Henry VI), Emma Kikue (God Said This, Up the Hill), Jeffrey Omura (House Rules, Hamlet) and Thom Sesma (Superhero, Sweeney Todd) will star in the Off-Broadway production, which begins previews on April 23 prior to its official press opening on April 28 at Theatre Row (410 W. 42nd Street) in Manhattan.

FRUITING BODIES, written by Sam Chanse and directed by Shelley Butler, is the story of two sisters, in a Northern California forest which seems to keep shape-shifting around them, as they go looking for their father who has gotten lost on a routine mushroom-hunting expedition. After encountering a mysterious young boy who bears a striking resemblance to their absent brother, the family searches for the road back, tackling limited visibility and the interfamilial politics of race and gender, pushed to extremes.

ABOUT THE CAST:

Kimiye Corwin (Mush): New York Theater: The Changeling (Red Bull), Martyrs (La Mama), Wasted: An Historical Burlesque (Ars Nova), Fire Throws (Ripe Time), Kate's Chink-O-Rama (Joe's Pub). TV/Film: The Blacklist, The Family, The Following, The Michael J. Fox Show, One Life to Live, Five Dances (film by Alan Brown). Training: BFA Juilliard, MFA Brown/Trinity. www.kimiyecorwin.com

Emma Kikue (Vicky) recently made her Off Broadway debut as SOPHIE in the premiere of God Said This, produced by Primary Stages at the historic Cherry Lane Theater. Previously, Emma had a recurring role in USA's THE SINNER, appeared on Madame Secretary and will guest star in the upcoming season of Elementary.

Jeffrey Omura (Boy) returns to Ma-Yi Theater having previously appeared in House Rules by A. Rey Pamatmat. Select credits also include: Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet (Public/NYSF); Macbeth (Hartford Stage). Film: Sex & the City 2. TV: "Gossip Girl"; "White Collar"; "Damages"; "Blue Bloods"; "High Maintenance"; "Limitless"; "The Blacklist"; "Gone"; "Elementary." Voice Over work: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2. Proud graduate of Carnegie Mellon School of Drama. Jeffreyomura.com

Thom Sesma (Ben) is currently featured in the new Tom Kitt & John Logan musical, SUPERHERO at 2nd Stage. Select stage credits also include Broadway: The Times They Are A-Changin', Man of La Mancha, Search & Destroy, Nick & Nora. National Tours: Lion King, Miss Saigon, Titanic. TV credits include: "Instinct'" "Madam Secretary," "Jessica Jones," "Gotham," "The Good Wife," "Person of Interest." Thomsesma.com

Sam Chanse (Playwright). TRIGGER, THE OPPORTUNITIES OF EXTINCTION, and WHAT ARE YOU NOW. Her work has also been developed with the Lark, Cherry Lane, Leviathan, Ars Nova, and EST/Sloan, and is published by Kaya Press (LYDIA'S FUNERAL VIDEO) and TCG (The Kilroys List). A former fellow at MacDowell, Cherry Lane Mentor Project, Sundance, and Playwrights Realm, she has also received residencies from Djerassi, Tofte Lake Center, and SPACE at Ryder Farm. She is a Lark Venturous Fellow, a resident playwright of New Dramatists, and a member of the Ma-Yi Writers Lab.

Shelley Butler (Director). Recent credits include the world premieres of Lucas Hnath's A DOLL'S HOUSE, PART 2 at South Coast Repertory, THE MAGICIAN'S DAUGHTER by Lila Rose Kaplan for Geva and HUMAN ERROR by Eric Pfeffinger for the Denver Center Theatre Company. She has developed plays and musicals with Ars Nova, Primary Stages, Yale Repertory Theatre, Hartford Stage, South Coast Repertory, Denver Center Theatre Company, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, New York Stage and Film, PlayPenn, Playwright's Realm, New Dramatists and the Lark.

Design credits for FRUITING BODIES include: Reid Thompson (Set Designer), Sara Ryung Clement (Costume Designer), and Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew (Lighting Designer). Kate Marvin (Sound Designer and Original Music).

Tickets to FRUITING BODIES at Theatre Row are on sale now. Tickets range in price from $32.25 to $42.25 and can be purchased by calling the Telecharge phone number 212-239-6200 or online at www.telecharge.com. Please also check out Theatre Row's website, www.theatrerow.org, and The Ma-Yi Theater Company website for additional information, www.ma-yitheatre.org.

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