Meryl Jones Williams to Lead ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT WILDFIRES at Teatro Circulo; Cast Announced!

Ricochet Collective will present the World Premiere of Harrison David Rivers' ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT WILDFIRES, co-conceived and directed by Sherri Eden Barber, at Teatro Circulo (64 East 4th Street between 2nd Avenue and Bowery), October 7-28 with performances Thursday through Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 7pm with additional performances on Tuesday, October 10, Wednesday, October 11 and Monday, October 23 at 7pm.

Tickets ($25;$20 during previews) are available online at www.ricochetcollective.com or by calling 1-800-838-3006. The performance will run approximately 90 minutes, with no intermission.

ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT WILDFIRES explores the true story of Terry Lynn Barton, a forestry technician, who in 2002 started the largest forest fire in Colorado history when she burned a letter from her estranged husband. Under the obsessive scrutiny of investigator Kim Jones, Terry's actions are called into question in a desperate attempt to uncover the motive behind her crime. As we watch Terry's relationship with her husband deteriorate over time, the clues begin to fall into place. Was the fire really an accident, or was it caused by a woman trying desperately to break free?

The cast will feature Meryl Jones Williams* ("Bull" on CBS; Rob Reiner's And So It Goes) in the central role of Terry Lynn Barton, along with Drae Campbell* (Jess Barbagallo's My Old Man at Dixon Place), John J. Concado* (Locusts Have No King at INTAR Theatre, directed by David Mendizábal), Mikaela Izquierdo* (Cyrano de Bergerac starring Douglas Hodge at Roundabout; Perfect Arrangement at Primary Stages), and Adam Keller (SUPER! The Musical at Midtown International Theatre Festival).

The production will feature Choreography by Caitlin Bailey (Culture Project's Women Center Stage Festival) and Ali Perkins (Still Life with Apples at Dixon Place), Scenic Design by Clifton Chadick (The 20th Century Way at Rattlestick; In Fields Where They Lay at The New Ohio), Costume Design by Stephanie Levin (Going to See The Kid at Merrimack Rep; Happy After Ever at 59E59), Lighting Design by Serena Wong (Gordy Crashes at IRT Theater), Original Music & Sound Design by Mark Van Hare (3/FIFTHS at 3LD; Nutcracker Rouge with Company XIV), Projection Design by Joey Moro (Orange Julius at Rattlestick), and Production Stage Manager Elizabeth Ann Goodman.* *Appearing courtesy of the Actors' Equity Association. Only You Can Prevent Wildfires is an Equity Approved Showcase.

ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT WILDFIRES was commissioned by Ricochet Collective and originally workshopped in November 2015 at Playwright's Center in St. Paul, MN. This will be the play's World Premiere.

Harrison David Rivers (Playwright) And She Would Stand Like This (Movement Theatre Company), Sweet (National Black Theatre), Look Upon Our Lowliness (Movement Theatre Company), When Last We Flew (GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding New York Theater; New York International Fringe Festival), Where Storms Are Born (Edgerton Foundation New Play Award, Williamstown), This Bitter Earth (New Conservatory Theatre Center, Penumbra), A Crack in the Sky (History Theatre), Five Points (Theatre Latte Da), When Last We Flew (TheatreLaB, Diversionary Theatre). Winner of the Emerging Artist of Color Fellowship (New York Theatre Workshop), Van Lier Fellowship (New Dramatists), Jerome Many Voices Fellowship, McKnight Fellowship for Playwrights, Core Writer (Playwrights' Center), and Founder's Award (New York Stage & Film). M.F.A, Columbia School of the Arts; B.A., Kenyon College. www.harrisondavidrivers.com

Sherri Eden Barber (Director) is a New York based theatre director and Artistic Director of Ricochet Collective. Recent: Happily After Ever (Ricochet Collective - 59E59, Edinburgh Fringe), Gordy Crashes (Ricochet Collective), Mr. Landing Takes A Fall (The Flea), Esperanza Spalding's Emily's D+Evolution (Development on European Tour), Herman Kline's Midlife Crisis (The Beckett), Monstrosity, Polaroid Stories, and BENT (The New School for Drama), The Lightning Thief (Theatreworks USA), 24 Hour Plays on Broadway (American Airlines Theatre), Latrell: Live Tonight!(Joe's Pub), Dance Lessons (winner of the Samuel French Short Play Festival). She has developed new work with Rattlestick, Orchard Project, The Flea, Culture Project, Chautauqua, and Old Vic. Sherri is a recipient of The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's National Directors Fellowship, the Core Company Director for The Orchard Project, a Drama League Directing Fellow and recipient of the US/UK Exchange Award. MFA: New School for Drama. www.SherriEdenBarber.com

RICOCHET COLLECTIVE is a newly formed collection of producers, directors, and designers who seek to provide visceral storytelling events. We believe in a communal, collaborative process that encourages artists to explore and expand the potential of live art. Finally, we are committed to creating immersive environments that engage audiences beyond the final curtain. Previous productions include Happily After Ever (59E59, Edinburgh Fringe), Gordy Crashes (IRT Theater); Jagged Little Pill (Joe's Pub) and Tragic Kingdom (Joe's Pub). www.ricochetcollective.com

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