Emma Goldman was a revolutionary figure in early 20th century America, and outspoken feminist, anarchist, and advocate for worker's rights and free love. And now Iron Age Theatre is doing justice to the spirit of her legacy with a revolutionary new approach to the performance.
The play will run in its premiere performances February 3-6 at The Centre Theater in Norristown, but the closing performance on Sunday afternoon will also be livecast on the internet to a potential audience of millions. Iron Age has partnered with several internet content providers to offer this livecast up to their regular consumers, giving Emma Goldman a reach that would have been impossible in her own time.
Iron Age pioneered the use of livecasting world premiere productions, when it simultaneously broadcast the premiere of EMPRESS OF THE MOON on speculative fiction website io9. That play saw its audience increase by a factor of five during the broadcast, and saw significant increases in ticket sales for the subsequent performances of the show.
In the past, many theaters and playwrights have been worried that internet simulcasting will hurt ticket sales, but Chris Braak, author of both RED EMMA and EMPRESS OF THE MOON, disagrees. "We're not worried at all, frankly. There's a wealth of material about writers, musicians, even television shows that got started and grew popular from things just like this. The fact is, good art deserves to be experienced by as many people as possible, and history has shown us that people are happy to pay for the things that they like, as long as they feel like they're being treated honestly and fairly."
RED EMMA is the story of Emma Goldman, and her astonishing life. From her arrests for inciting riots or speaking out against the draft, to her time in prison, to her deportation to Russia and her eventual escape from the Soviets, Emma Goldman's story is so extraordinary as to be almost unbelievable. Braak, the author of Iron Age Theatre's critically-lauded THE LIFE OF
John Henry and EMPRESS OF THE MOON, was challenged to develop a new work that could both reveal some of that incredible life, while simultaneously presenting her ideas fairly and fully.
"Emma Goldman's contributions to political philosophy and discourse cannot be overstated, and she lived a life fraught with adventure and with anguished heartbreak," says Braak. "I don't think I've ever felt more privileged to work on a play than I have exploring the life of this amazing woman."
Emma is played by
Mary Tuomanen who recently performed in InterAct Theatre's highly-successful SILVERHILL. In addition to her renowned performance artwork in Phiadelphia, Mary recently appeared in Nice People's Theatre's GRACE, OR THE ART OF CLIMBING and in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM and MACBETH at Philadelphia Shakespeare Theater, where she will portray Hamlet in the spring. Mary has worked with Shakespeare in Clark Park and in New York at
New Dramatists,
HERE Arts Center, and the TANK Theater. She has extensive credits outside of the Philadelphia region as well as in France.
"Mary is a wonder" stated
John Doyle, Artistic Director of Iron Age Theatre and the director of RED EMMA, "her commitment to the work and ideas is matched by the talent she brings to the stage."
As part of Iron Age Theatre's Social Justice initiative, RED EMMA will be touring the country along with Howard Zinn's MARX IN SOHO and Bill Hollenbach's CITIZEN PAINE. This program has been a rousing success for Iron Age Theatre; their production of MARX IN SOHO has played almost 200 performances to thousands of people across the nation and was Howard' Zinn's favorite incarnation of the play.
CITIZEN PAINE has run at The Brecht Forum, The City Tavern, Robin's Booksstore, and the Centre Theater. Adam Altman's rich three-dimensional portrait of Paine along with the intimate setting make this production a potent experience. Hollenbach's play deftly intersperses the story of Paine's life with his writings and philosophical journey. The play returns to the Centre Theater stage for an encore performance after its triumphant run at the Brecht Forum. On January 17th, Martin Luther King Day, Paine regales the audience with stories of his life and his iconoclastic philosophy.
Iron Age is also beginning work on the next social justice piece, BOOK OF DISSENT, an ambitious adaptation of THE VERSO BOOK OF DISSENT, an anthology of works of dissent, revolt, and rebellion throughout human history.
The performances take place at The Centre Theater at 208 DeKalb Street, Norristown, PA
in the 4th floor theatre the street that has become "Norristown Arts Hill". Tickets can be purchased by calling 610-279-1013 or online at http://iron-age-theatre.ticketleap.com
Iron Age Theatre has been producing in the Philadelphia region since 1993 bringing works such as TUNNEL, SKULL IN CONNEMARA, TERRA NOVA and SHAKESPLOITATION to the stage. The company has produced 7 premier productions over the past three years.
RED EMMA is the keystone of THE INDEPENDENT VOICES FESTIVAL, a month-long adventure of independent theater and arts; 11 companies will present more than 20 performances, featuring puppetry, solo performance, music, and more. The festival runs from January 7th through February 6th .
The Centre Theater is at the heart of a project to develop an arts district in and to help revitalize Norristown, which includes a massive renovation of its facility and the development of a new, larger theatrical space. The Centre has been an anchor not just for theater, but for theater education, fine arts, and music in Norristown for more than fifteen years. It is easily reached via routes 202, I-76, I-476 and Ridge Pike. There is plenty of free parking and the theater is one block from Septa's Norristown Transit Center on the Manayunk/Norristown line.
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