McLaughlin to Present New Play, 'Penelope', This Fall at NYU

Actress and playwright Ellen McLaughlin, best known for originating the role of the Angel in Tony Kushner's "ANGELS IN AMERICA", appearing in every U.S. production from its earliest workshops through its Broadway run, will present a workshop presentation of her new play "PENELOPE" at NYU this fall.  "PENELOPE" is a music-theater piece featuring Ms. Mc Laughlin and a string quartet with original music by Sarah Kirkland Snider.  It will be presented at NYU Gallatin School's new Labowitz theatre, 715 Broadway, on October 29, 20, 31 and November 1st at 7 PM with a 2 PM matinee on November 1.

A woman's ex-husband appears at her door after an absence of 20 years, suffering from brain damage.   A veteran of a modern war, he doesn't know who he is and she doesn't know who he's become.  While they wait together for his return to himself, she reads him The Odyssey, and in the journey of that book, she finds a way into her former husband's memory and the terror and trauma of war.

"PENELOPE" will be directed by Lisa Rothe. The string quartet will be: Olivia De Prato and Amie Weiss on violin; Beth Meyers, viola and Lauren Radnofsky, cello. The Lighting designer is M. L. Geiger with set design by Eliza Brown and video design by Marilys Ernst.  "PENELOPE" was first produced in 2008 by the Getty Museum in Los Angeles.

In addition to ANGELS IN AMERICA, some of Ellen's many other roles include The Homebody in "HOMEBODY/KABUL" (Intiman Theater); Pirate Jenny in "THREEPENNY OPERA" (Trinity Rep., Elliot Norton Award); Mrs. Alving in "GHOSTS" (Bk Rep.), and Titania in "A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM" (McCarter and the Paper Mill Playhouse.)

Ellen McLaughlin's plays include Days and Nights Within, A Narrow Bed, Infinity's House, Iphigenia and Other Daughters, Tongue of a Bird, Helen, The Trojan Women, The Persians and Oedipus.   Producing theaters include The National Actors' Theater, The Public Theater, New York Theater Workshop, Classic Stage Company, The Actors' Theatre of Louisville, Seattle's Intiman, LA's Mark Taper Forum, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Almeida in London and The Guthrie Theater, MN.

          She is the recipient of grants from the Fund for New American Plays and the National Endowment for the Arts. She is the winner of The Great American Play Contest, the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize and the Writer's Award from the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund.

Ellen has taught playwrighting in numerous venues, from Yale School of Drama to Princeton University. She has been teaching at Barnard since 1995.  She is a member of New Dramatists and has served on the board of T.C.G. for seven years.   Her most recent production is (was?) Ajax in Iraq at ART, MA. and TCG recently published her latest play The Greek Plays.

Director Lisa Rothe has collaborated with Ellen on several plays including the premiere of "Mermaid" at Blue Heron Arts Center, as well as directing at Epic Theatre Center, The Women's Project, EST and all over the country.

Tickets for the 5-performance engagement of "PENELOPE" at the Labowitz Theatre are $10 with fee admission to NYU students presenting valid ID.  Tickets are available online at www.nyu.edu/ticketcentral and can be purchased at the Ticket Central Box Office in the Kimmel Center, 60 Washington Square South, on the day of performance.  Students must present ID at Ticket Central (open Mon-Fri 12:30 to 7 PM) to obtain free seats. Tickets will not be sold at the door.

Producer Jenn Harris said: "Gallatin is a school of individualized studies and many of the students are combining social change with their chosen art form. Having Ellen bring this beautiful piece of work to our institution is very fitting. Her ability to use art as a political canon is inspiring to many of us who are destined for the same path. The Labowitz Theatre is a new space at Gallatin and represents the growth that we have achieved thus far in our history. We are honored to have 'Penelope' kick off our inaugural season."

"PENELOPE" will also be presented at Princeton's Taplin Auditorium, Washington Road, on November 4 and 5 at 8 PM. These performances are free and open to the public.

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