SPEAKING IN TONGUES Opens Tonight at Theatre 54

Australian Made Entertainment presents Andrew Bovell's Speaking in Tongues, winner of the Australian Writer's Guild award for Best Play, directed by Bryn Boice. The two-week limited engagement at Theatre 54 (at Shelter Studios, 254 West 54th St. 12th Floor) began Friday, November 30 and continues through Sunday, December 16. Opening Night is tonight, December 2 at 2PM.

Fragile marriages are put to the test as two couples inadvertently switch partners for an adulterous exchange. Simultaneously, a psychologist goes missing after being stranded on a deserted road, and one man's suspicious behavior leads his neighbor to believe he might be responsible for the woman's disappearance.

Four actors bring to life nine intersecting lives in this haunting and challenging play from Andrew Bovell, one of Australia's most exciting and inventive playwrights. Through interwoven stories, Speaking In Tongues treats its audience to an intriguing narrative journey; where one story ends, another begins; the same events are retold from different perspectives; characters reappear, others disappear.

Exploring our inability to truly understand each other, this absorbing psychological thriller will leave you breathless as it poses questions about the rights and wrongs of emotional conduct. Are we listening to each other? Are we making ourselves understood? Or are we merely Speaking In Tongues?

The production stars Kathleen Foster (Grimm) as Jane/Valerie, Matthew Foster (MildrEd Pierce) as Pete/Neil/John, Laura Iris Hill (Neighbours) as Sonja/Sarah, and Michael Poignand (The Wind in the Willows) as Leon/Nick.

The production features scenic design by James J. Fenton, costume design by Emily Rose Parman, and lighting design by Simon Cleveland. Victoria De Meo is the stage manager.

Performances of Speaking in Tongues will be at 8PM Wednesday-Saturday and 2PM on Sunday from Friday, November 30 through Sunday, December 16. Run time is 2 hours.

Tickets are $18 Thursday-Sunday, and $10 on Wednesdays and are now available online at speakingintongues.brownpapertickets.com. Tickets may also be purchased in-person at the Theatre 54 box office ½ hour prior to the performance. Purchase tickets before November 16th for $15 tickets.

For more information, visit www.australianmadeentertainment.com.

Bryn Boice (Director) has spent over 30 years in the theatre, as a classically-trained actress, director, producer, playwright and some-time designer. Recent directing credits include: Wonder of the World by David Lindsay-Abaire (Stephens College, MO), The Complaint by Randy Noojin (NYC premiere - 45th St. Theatre), No Fault by Christie Perfetti (NY International Fringe '11 - Kraine Theater) and Puppet Love by Mya Kagan, for which she won Honorable Mention for Outstanding Direction at American Rep's Turnip Festival of Short Plays, and subsequently remounted at Ars Nova. For InProximity Theatre Company, she directed both Navy Pier by John Corwin (NYC premiere - Theatre Row) and their inaugural production, Orange Flower Water by Craig Wright (Theatre 54). As co-creator of the long-running series The Dare Project with taxdeductible theatre company, she has written, directed and/or acted in over 30 short plays based on audience dares. Bryn holds an MFA in Acting from Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training (FL) and a BFA in Theatre Arts from Emporia State University (KS).

Andrew Bovell (Playwright) is one of Australia's most acclaimed playwrights, having won a total of nine Australian Writer's Guild awards, including Best Stage Play for Speaking In Tongues and Best Screenplay for its film adaptation, Lantana, which starred Anthony LaPaglia, Geoffrey Rush and Barbara Hershey. Bovell was also awarded the Centenary Medal by the Australian Government in 2001 for his contribution to society and the arts. Speaking In Tongues has been performed throughout Australia, Europe and the US, including an off-Broadway production by the Roundabout Theatre Company, as well as a recent revival on the West End. His other plays include After Dinner, Holy Day and, with HAnnie Rayson, Scenes from a Separation. He was also one of five co-authors of the play Who's Afraid of the Working Class?, which was adapted into the film Blessed. After major success all over Australia, his play When The Rain Stops Falling received a 2010 production at the Lincoln Center Theater in New York City, where it won five Lucille Lortel Awards. Along with Lantana and Blessed, Bovell also co-wrote the screenplays for Head On, The Book of Revelation, Edge of Darkness, starring Mel Gibson, and the beloved Aussie film Strictly Ballroom. His latest screenplay is an adaptation of John Le Carre's novel A Most Wanted Man, currently in production with stars Philip Seymour Hoffman and Rachel McAdams.

Australian Made Entertainment is an independent arts organization, based in New York City, dedicated to bringing Australian works to the United States. It aims to produce theatre and film with a distinctly Australian flavor, whether it explores aspects of Australian culture or simply showcases the rich talents of Australian artists. In addition to producing classic works from established playwrights, Australian Made Entertainment hopes to introduce American audiences to emerging Australian writers, as well as to provide opportunities for Australian performers, directors and other entertainment professionals.

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