The Workshop Theater Company Presents Bob Stewart's FABULOUS DARSHAN

THE WORKSHOP THEATER celebrates Pride month with the world premiere of Fabulous Darshan at the WorkShop Mainstage Theater June 2nd-June 24th, Thursday-Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 3pm. The WorkShop Theater is located at 312 West 36th Street, 4th floor. Subway: A, C, or E to Penn Station. General admission tickets to Fabulous Darshan are $18, $15 for students and seniors. For Information / Tickets visit: www.workshoptheater.org or call 866-811-4111. The play is directed by Susan Izatt.

THE WORKSHOP THEATER'S production of Fabulous Darshan is a joyous comedy about the transforming dance of friendship & mentoring among three generations of gay men (with the help of an ancient Deity). With Sofia Palacios Blanco's installation art-like set and choreography from the epic masterpiece "Showgirls," Fabulous Darshan is as colorful as it is entertaining.

Gay, of color, and of size, ("I consider myself a triple threat!'), Ken (Tim Cain) has managed life with HIV, relying on the stability of being the longest original cast member in the longest running Broadway show. Terrified to change, and still haunted by the ghosts of past loves, Ken finds zen in his daily meditation... until Stu (Evan Bernardin), adorable and addicted, breathes fresh air into his life while turning it topsy-turvy. Completely in denial, and stuck in a rut, Ken's once-lover, now-best friend and mentor Edmond (Spencer Scott Barros), also living with HIV, prods him towards a new awakening. Three generations of gay men come together- with the help of a certain Hindu deity (Michael Smith Rivera)- to ask the big questions and to guide each other through the big transitions: from innocence to knowing, stagnancy to the unknown, from friend to lover, lover to friend, and ultimately, from life to death.

Says playwright Bob Stewart, "I wrote Fabulous Darshan to honor my mentors/friends who helped me grow up. Rarely does a young adult, Gay person have any role models to identify with. I was lucky: I actually had two slightly older/wiser Gay friends who helped guide me to my adult path. They are an amalgamation of the lead role of Ken in the play. These were men whom I could ask any question to, questions I could barely ask myself. Those platonic gay friendships were so important to my growth as young man. Not only were their homes a sanctuary for me in the big city but they also showed me whom I could become, personally, artistically, & spiritually. I tried to honor them with this work and also honor their older Gay friends who became their mentors too."

Bob Stewart (Playwright) is an award-winning New York playwright and the writer/performer in his one-man comedy, Jesus In A Beehive (The Last Temptation of Mitchell Pantene) directed by Susan Izatt. His A Memory Play won Best of the Festival for the Mid-Town International Play Festival and was produced by the Workshop Theater for their 2008/09 Season. As a resident playwright in The Workshop Theater Company his Chicken & Egg Soup was produced for 2009's Cold Snaps Festival and his Bethesda will be featured in WorkShop's veteran series THEY THAT HAVE BOURNE THE BATTLE in May.

SUSAN IZATT (Director) is a WorkShop Theatre Member and, as the Artistic Director of MoonSoup Productions has produced Citi Schools Shakespeare and Bob Stewart's A Memory Play (MITF). Ms. Izatt directed John Lewis's In The Ball Park, Bob Stewart's Jesus In A Beehive (at The Duplex NYC and the Philadelphia Gay & Lesbian Festival). Susan is an acting teacher at United Nations International School and is the co-founder of MoonSoup Early Childhood Studio, NYC.

ABOUT WORKSHOP THEATER COMPANY: Founded in 1994, WorkShop Theater Company's mission is to provide a creative home for our diverse group of playwrights, directors and actors, to hone their talents and cultivate projects, from inspiration through finished production, while encouraging our audience to partner with us in developing new works.

FABULOUS DARSHAN
By: Bob Stewart
Directed by: Susan Izzat
Starring: Tim Cain*, Michael Smith Rivera,* Spencer Scott Barros*, Evan Bernardin* and Ben Sumerall
Set Design: Sofia Palacios Blanco
Stage Manager: Michael Palmer
Costume Manager: Chris Hlinka
Sound Designer: Quentin Chiapetta
Lighting Designer: Diana Duecker
Production Manager: Kelly Anne Burns

*Actor appears courtesy of Actor's Equity Association. An Equity Showcase Production.

WORKSHOP THEATER present FABULOUS DARSHAN at the WorkShop's Mainstage Theater from June 2nd-24th (Thursdays-Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 3pm). The WorkShop Theater's Mainstage Theater is located at 312 West 36th Street, 4th floor @ 8th Ave. Tickets: $18 Subway: A/C/E to Penn Station.

 

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