Photo Flash: Bated Breath's 'A Doll's House'

Bated Breath Theatre Company will present the world premiere of Henrik Ibsen's A DOLL'S HOUSE, in a bold new version by Helene Kvale, at the Gene Frankel Theatre, 24 Bond St. New York, NY. Previews Begin Friday, June 6 at 7:30 p.m. and the official opening will be on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.
 
It's Christmas Eve and Nora's perfect world is about to explode in a way that it never has before. Set in mid century America, Bated Breath's bold re-imagining of Ibsen's classic play is beautiful and haunting. In this original contemporary adaptation, A Doll's House fuses magical realism with gritty reality where nothing is as it seems… Nora flies and the doll's house burns. Using physical theatre and strong visuals, this production of A DOLL'S HOUSE is groundbreaking theatre.
 
Helene Kvale is a Member of The Lincoln Center Directors Lab 2007 and founding member of Bated Breath Theatre Company. Based in London until 2003, she worked as an actor on numerous award winning productions in theatre, television, radio and film including Richard III  (Richard Eyre), Napoli Milionaria (Richard Eyre), King Lear (Deborah Warner),  Gitta's Attonement (Studio: Brian Cox), Shift (Studio: Mick Mahoney). Her West End credits include Burning Blue  (John Hickok), Life During Wartime (Toby Reisz), To Kill A Mockingbird  (Chris Hayes).  Other London and regional work includes: The Secret Rapture, Roman and Marys, Diary of Anne Frank, Getting Out, Brand, Canadian Gothic, Sexual Perversity in Chicago. She has appeared in over twenty television dramas including as a regular in Soldier Soldier, London Bridge and The Bill.  She is best known in this country for her work in Prime Suspect 4, This Life, Deceit, Daddy's Girl and Lovejoy. Ms. Kvale is Assistant Professor in Residence at The University of Connecticut where she teaches acting.
 
Henrik Johan Ibsen was a major Norwegian playwright largely responsible for the rise of modern realistic drama. He is often referred to as the "father of modern drama." His plays were considered scandalous to many of his era, when Victorian values of family life and propriety largely held sway in Europe and any challenge to them was considered immoral and outrageous. Ibsen's work examined the realities that lay behind many facades, possessing a revelatory nature that was disquieting to many contemporaries.
 
The cast of A DOLL'S HOUSE features Heddy Lahmann, Luke Daniels, Hillary Parker, Peter Mutino, Nathan Caron and Marie Saddlemire.
 
Set design is by Mike Billings, costume design is by Lucy Brown, movement director is Greg Webster and stage manager is Jenna Bauman. Graphic Design is by co:lab.
 
Performances of A DOLL'S HOUSE is Wednesday – Monday at 7:30 PM. Matinees are on Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30 PM.
 
Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at www.theatermania.com or by calling 212.352.3101.

The production of A DOLL'S HOUSE is supported by the Marks Family Endowment in the School of Fine A rts at the University of Connecticut.
 
Bated Breath draws on classical and contemporary plays to produce unusual and experiential theatre that doesn't follow the crowd. Their work is defined by the simple and the spectacular, sometimes using site-specific spaces for performance.  They bring the wonder to live theatre, encouraging audiences of all ages and backgrounds to enjoy and collaborate in a rare experience.
 
For more information visit www.batedbreaththeatre.org.

Heddy Lahman and Hillary Parker

Heddy Lahman and Peter Mutino

Luke Daniels and Heddy Lahman

Photos by Gerry Goodstein.