Opera-Infused Play RISE Set for Theatre 54, Now thru 4/20

Roots and Wings Theatrical has announced the world premiere production of RISE, directed by Samantha Shechtman. RISE will play a three-week limited engagement at Theatre 54 (244 W. 54th Street, 12th Floor). Performances begin tonight, April 5 and continue through Saturday, April 20. Opening Night is tonight, April 5 (8 p.m.).

RISE is an opera-infused play intertwining the tale of Rome's most infamous anarchist Emperor with the extravagant ambition of four modern-day misfits.

In a decaying Roman Empire, debauchery and ruthlessness are de rigueur, but Boy-King Elagabalus's excesses and flagrant disregard for religious tradition and sexual taboos shocks even the most callous citizens. Placed on the throne by the conniving machinations of his mother and grandmother, Elagabalus marries a sacred Vestal Virgin, skewers the national religion, and flaunts his exploits with men and women of all classes.

On the outskirts of LA, aspirations run high. Brick Richards has been a top player in porn for ten
years, and his manager Myrna Malone desperately wants to convince him to transition to mainstream movies before his star fades. Myrna's assistant Glenn wants something different from Brick: a great, sweeping romance to make life complete. Glenn's roommate Mia doesn't care about sweeping romances, she just wants to achieve her dream of launching the next big cosmetics line, and maybe Myrna or Brick can make that happen?

Through human history, one conflict is timeless: when personal ambition eclipses all other considerations, crossed desires lead to double crossing.

The production features Crawford M. Collins* (SICKS, Walkerspace) as Myrna Malone, Tafe
Gato (Iphigenia at Aulis, Verse Theater Manhattan) as Brick Richards, Trey Gerrald* (NBC's Next Caller opposite Dane Cook and Jeffrey Tambor) as Glenn, Jamey Grisham* (Much Ado About Nothing, The Secret Theatre) as Elagabalus, Arielle Hader (FIRE THIEF, Looking Glass Theatre) as Mia, Margaret Meyer (SUOR ANGELICA, New York Lyric Opera) as Julia Moesa, Jennifer Teska* (Miracle on 34th Street, Theatrical Gems) as the Vestal Virgin, and Jessica Wagner* (L'IL ABNER, Musicals Tonight!) as Julia Soemia.

The production features scenic design by Samantha Shechtman and Gabe Belyeu, costume design by John Saunders and Samantha Shechtman, and lighting design by Lauren Bremen. David Carl is the music director, Gabe Belyeu is the sound designer, and Olivia Edery is the stage manager.

RISE plays the following schedule through Saturday, April 20, 2013:

Friday, April 5 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, April 6 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, April 7 at 3 p.m.
Thursday, April 11 at 8 p.m.
Friday, April 12 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, April 13 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, April 14 at 3 p.m.
Monday, April 15 at 8 p.m.
Thursday, April 18 at 8 p.m.
Friday, April 19 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, April 20 at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $15 - $18 and are now available online at www.SmartTix.com or by calling 212-868-4444. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the door 30 minutes prior to curtain. Theatre 54 at Shetler Studios & Theatres is located at 244 W. 54th Street, 12th Floor, New York, NY. Running Time: 2 hours with 1 intermission.

For more information, visit www.rawtheatrical.org.

JOSEPH Samuel Wright (Playwright) is an NYC-based playwright and producer whose works have been showcased by LSU's Outworks Festival, Culture Project, Sightline, NyLon Fusion Collective, Artistic New Directions, theNest, Roots and Wings Theatrical, Core Ensemble, University of Tennessee, Maryville College, Lark Play Development Center, and BE Theatre Company. His produced plays include Miss Hope's, Bck to the Grnd, What If, You Are Here, Unbecoming, Mask of Medusa, My Big, Thick Schtick, Constellation Nightglow, and the social advocacy play Ours. Wright is an O'Neill semi- finalist, a member of the NyLon Fusion Writers Collective, and was the Resident Playwright at theNest from 2010 - 2012. His bylines include Theatre Is Easy, TheaterOnline, TimeOutNY.com, and BroadwaySpace. For more visit http:// josephsamuelwright.wix.com/josephsamuelwright.

DAVID CARL (Composer) is a native of Texas who started playing piano at a young age. He later moved to NYC to study piano performance, where he realized he would rather be writing music than performing it. His art songs have been performed at Mannes College of Music and at the EAMA in Paris, France. His numerous music directing credits include two summers with the Brewery Follies of Virginia City, Montana and the premier production of A Year with the Ever So Slightly Crazy (and British) Veronica Sexton.

SAMANTHA SHECHTMAN (Director) holds a B.A. from Rutgers University and an M.F.A. in directing from The New School for Drama. NYC directorial credits include: The Bus Stop (Sanford Meisner Theatre), The Hole (Theatre at St. Clements), My Big Thick Schtick (Shetler Studios), and The Play About the Baby (59E59). She spends most of her time artistically with new works. This is her 5th collaboration with Joseph Samuel Wright. She is the Artistic Director of theNEST.

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