Wreckio Ensemble Presents ROOFTOPS For 4 Week Engagement

WRECKIO ENSEMBLE is pleased to announce the world premiere production of ROOFTOPS, directed by Kimberlea Kressal. ROOFTOPS will play a four-week limited engagement at The Milagro at Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural Center (107 Suffolk Street, New York, NY 10002). Performances begin Thursday, March 5 and continue through to Saturday, March 28. Opening Night is Saturday, March 7 (8 p.m.).

ROOFTOPS is a satiric commentary on the economic divide present in American society. When Crane is ripped from her world of comfort and convenience and catapulted on to “the Tops”, she is introduced to a world of women living and working in a futuristic “debtors prison”. These women, under constant sedation, unlivable conditions, and government experimentation, are quickly deteriorating both mentally and physically. As she learns the rituals and rules of her new home, including a regimented diet of fast food chicken and an expectation to breed with the rooftop's male watchdog, Crane's hope of ever returning to her old life seems impossible. When an Arab-American man, who is demonized by the media as a terrorist, offers Crane a chance to end the suffering of the rooftop dwellers, but possibly sacrifice herself in the process, Crane is forced to question the worth of one human life versus the freedom of thousands.

The production features scenic design by Michael McClain, costume design by Rachel Attridge and lighting design by Pamela Kupper. Tara Grieco and Dimitra Bixby of UNiONEYE are the sound/video engineers.

ROOFTOPS plays the following regular schedule through Saturday, March 28th:

Mondays at 8 p.m.
Thursdays at 8 p.m.
Fridays at 8 p.m.
Saturdays at 8 p.m.
Sundays at 3 p.m.

Tickets are $20 and are now available online at www.wreckio.com or by calling 917-626-1369. Tickets may also be purchased in-person at the theater’s box office ½ hour prior to the performance.

*90 minutes*

KIMBERLEA KRESSAL (Director) is a director and playwright living in New York City. Kimberlea is an Artistic Associate for Wreckio Ensemble for whom she directs and writes regularly. Most recently she conceived, directed and co-authored The Ladies Aide Society Invites You to A Poverty Party to Benefit The Foundation for Ethical Art and Culture, for which Wreckio was granted a chashama Performing Arts Residency and an opportunity to travel the show to Dublin, Ireland. In 2007 she received the "Best Director" award at The Wonderland Festival for her direction of Sandwich starring Wreckio Ensemble's co-Artistic Directors, Dechelle Damien and Karly Maurer. She is a Founder and former Artistic Director of the New York City based women's theatre company, the estrotribe. For her work as a director and arts educator, Kimberlea has been featured in Backstage Magazine, The New Times, and The Palm Beach Post and her self-conceived and directed production Menstruation, Manipulation, Mutilation; Herstory was listed in Time Out New York's "100 Reasons to See NY Theater." Kimberlea spent three years as Artistic Coordinator and Dean of Admissions for the Dreyfoos School of the Arts in South Florida. She has served as a member of the Palm Beach Cultural Council, Committee Member for the SUNFEST Arts and Music Festival, and Arts Ambassador for The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. She has been a frequent guest speaker for philanthropic organizations and a presenter at national conferences on the topic of developing and funding arts education programs. In 2008 she completed the book and lyrics for a new musical, The Lesbian Love Octagon; a musical comedy about dyke drama, with composer Will Larche.

Some of her favorite directing credits include: The Corner, Me, Myself, I and the Others, Teach a Girl to Fish, Sweet Ugly, Menstruation, Manipulation, Mutilation; Herstory (2000 Audience Favorite Award - NY International Fringe Festival), Bitch Witch Vamp Tramp Virgin Whore Goddess, The Game, Medea, The Life and Death of King John, Matsukaze, The Serpent, and Ragtime. Additionally, Kimberlea has worked with activist groups creating and performing site-specific street theatre. She is the recipient of the Robert Moss Directing Award. She received her BFA in Directing from NYU, Tisch School of the Arts where she currently serves as a Directing Mentor for 3rd and 4th year undergraduate directing students.

KARLY MAURER (Playwright) is a founding member and co-Artistic Director of Wreckio Ensemble. She was last seen in Wreckio's productions of The Ladies Aide Society...and Naked. Other Wreckio roles include: Eye the Third in Me, Myself, I and the Others, various characters in the Based on a True Story series, Number One in The Corner, and various characters in Wrestling Porcelain. She was nominated for best actress at the 2007 Wonderland Festival for her portrayal of Helen in Jessamyn Fiore's original play, Sandwich. Karly began writing plays in 2001 with her one-woman show, Three Doors, and then Gravediggers in 2005, which Wreckio produced at the Ontological Hysteric Theater. She also co-wrote Wrestling Porcelain (2003) and The Ladies Aide Society... (2008). She was mentored by Suzanne Agins as part of the Play Development Collective's 2008 Spring Intensive to workshop Rooftops. She is currently in the beginning stages of development for her fourth original play.

WRECKIO ENSEMBLE THEATER COMPANY produces original and innovative works on social issues through their developing movement technique.

Wreckio integrates the body, mind, and voice in storytelling to stimulate thought, creating a symbiotic relationship between audience and ensemble.

 

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