Cutting Ball Theater Presents First Installment of Hidden Classics Reading Series THE NATURAL RELATIONS Today

Cutting Ball Theater presents the first installment of this season's Hidden Classics Reading Series, THE NATURAL RELATIONS and other plays, by Brazilian playwright Qorpo Santo, in new translations by Cutting Ball resident playwright Andrew Saito. Regarded in his day as insane, Santo's plays were rediscovered by intellectuals in the 1960s. Although still largely overlooked by the western theatrical community, this 19th century Brazilian playwright is thought by many to have written the first Absurdist plays, anticipating works by Beckett, Jarry, Genet and Ionesco. Satio's translations represent the first time these plays will be presented in English. Andrew Saito and Rem Myers co-direct THE NATURAL RELATIONS, featuring Donald Currie, Gwyneth Richards, Marilet Matínez, Maura Halloran and Leah Anderson.

This season, Cutting Ball's Hidden Classics Reading Series celebrates a variety of works ranging from the ancient Mayans to the ancient Greeks, the Elizabethans to French avant-garde, and Brazilian experimentalism. The series offers a profound look at some of the most adventurous authors to write for the stage in a program that continues to be one of San Francisco's best-kept secrets.

Co-founded in 1999 by theater artists Rob Melrose and Paige Rogers, Cutting Ball Theater presents avant-garde works of the past, present, and future by re-envisioning classics, exploring seminal avant-garde texts, and developing new experimental plays. The company has commissioned, developed, and produced new experimental plays, and has partnered with Playwrights Foundation, and the Magic Theatre/Z Space New Plays Initiative to commission new experimental works. In addition to producing West Coast Premieres and re-imaging various classics, Cutting Ball Theater has produced nine World Premieres and seven World Premiere translations. Cutting Ball received the 2008 San Francisco Bay Guardian Goldie award for outstanding talent in the performing arts, and was voted "Best Theater Company" in the 2010 San Francisco Bay Guardian Best of the Bay issue. The company also earned the Best of SF award in 2006 and "Best Experimental Theater Company" in 2012 from SF Weekly, and was selected by San Francisco magazine as Best Classic Theater in 2007. Cutting Ball Theater was featured in the February 2010 and 2012 issues of American TheatreMagazine. In 2012, Cutting Ball was awarded a grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to fund a three-year residency for resident playwright Andrew Saito. The American Theatre Wing, best known as the creator of the Antoinette Perry "Tony" Awards, awarded the company with a 2013 National Theatre Company grant.

WHEN: Today, November 3, 2013, 1pm

WHERE: The Cutting Ball Theater in Residence at EXIT on Taylor, 277 Taylor St., San Francisco

TICKETS: Readings free and open to the public. For more information, visit cuttingball.com or call 415-525-1205

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