EgoPo Presents Philadelphia Premiere of Romulus Linney's GINT, Now thru 5/11

EgoPo is thrilled to present the finale of their 20th season, the Philadelphia premiere of GINT, Romulus Linney's adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's Peer Gynt. Directed by Artistic Director, Lane Savadove, GINT previews on April 30th, with Press Opening today, May 2nd. The production will run two weeks, closing on May 11th, at Christ Church Neighborhood House.

Over the course of EgoPo's 2013-14 season, devoted to the father of modern drama, the company has radically deconstructed the well-known A Doll's House into a one-woman show; presented his shadowy Lady from the Sea in a new light; and now EgoPo will transport Ibsen from rural Norway to rural Kentucky with Romulus Linney's adaptation, GINT.

Linney seamlessly transitions Ibsen's masterpiece to the Appalachian Mountains, for an evening of Southern folklore. To celebrate the cultural traditions of Kentucky, 30 minutes before each performance the GINT ensemble will present a pre-show town square hoedown featuring dance, live Appalachian music, and Kentucky favorites like Beer Cheese, Pork Rinds, and handcrafted Appalachian Pale Ale brewed by EgoPo's own Kevin Chick (recently seen in Lady from the Sea).

As Ibsen originally wrote, Gynt is the perfect example of an anti-hero: a liar, philanderer, and selfish young man who is driven purely by his own passions. He steals the young bride of the town's respected family and finds himself banished to the mountains. This is where Gynt embarks on his epic journey that leads him to the trolls beneath the mountain, an attack by talking trees (Bresh), and to the Devil himself.

Gynt's dream-like journey to find his identity and his place in the Universe is completely transformed in the hands of the Obie Award winning playwright. Ibsen's mountain trolls become talking Hogs; the voices of nature become Mountains Lights; the Button-molder, a Cherokee Medicine Man. Even the Devil is given a new form as a hitchhiking hippie. The result is a boisterous production filled with folk music and talking Hogs, unlike any Ibsen you've ever seen.

EgoPo is thrilled to welcome back many familiar faces to the cast such as Sean Lally in the title role of Gint. Lally's past EgoPo credits include Hell and Bluebird. Melanie Julian also joins the cast, as Gint's Oldie Mamma, following last year's lead in EgoPo's Assassination of Jesse James. The company is thrilled to feature Isa St. Clair, as Sally Vicks, for the first time following her performance in Curio Theater's Romeo and Juliet.

The world of GINT comes to life with a dynamic, versatile, and physical ensemble of actors who are no strangers to the EgoPo stage including Griffin Stanton-Ameisen (Houdini, Golem, Marat/Sade), Ed Swidey (Lady from the Sea, Uncle Tom's Cabin, Hell, Endgame), Johnny Smith (Diary of Anne Frank), Cindy Spitko (Anne Frank, Hell), Sarah Schol (Golem, Hell, Marat/Sade), and Lee Minora (Lady from the Sea, Houdini).

EgoPo is proud to partner with the Norwegian-American Chamber of Commerce (NACC) to present a Special Opening Night Champagne Reception and Talk Back featuring EgoPo's artists and Ibsen expert Rolf Kristian Stang who was inducted into the Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame, for his outstanding efforts to interpret and promote Norwegian culture.

Opening Night audiences can sip on Champagne while listening to this expert panel discussion on Peer Gynt's history in Norway and how it relates to Linney's adaptation. EgoPo is happy to work with the Philadelphia Chapter of NACC, as Opening Sponsors. The NACC works to build business opportunities, relationships, and good will between the Philadelphia region and Norway.

GINT runs April 30th through May 11th at Christ Church Neighborhood House. Wednesday through Friday curtain is at 8pm, Saturdays at 3pm and 8pm, and Sundays at 5pm. Tickets: $22.00-35.00

For a full performance schedule and ticket information please visit us online at www.egopo.org or call 267-273-1414.

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