New Conservatory Theatre Center Presents World Premiere of THIS BITTER EARTH

In September, New Conservatory Theatre Center kicks off its 2017-18 subscription season with the world premiere of This Bitter Earth by Harrison David Rivers, directed by NCTC Founder & Artistic Director Ed Decker. An NCTC-commissioned play, This Bitter Earth directly responds to the personal and political impact of racial tensions in our country today. A protest brings Jesse, a black man, together with his white lover, a Black Lives Matter activist. But now, as his lover immerses himself in the struggle, Jesse must confront his own political apathy or risk his rights and their love. This gripping and intimate new play asks what is the real cost of standing on the sidelines?

This Bitter Earth was commissioned and developed as part of NCTC's New Play Development Lab.

This Bitter Earth runs September 22 - October 22, 2017. Opening Night is Saturday, September 30, 2017 at 8pm. Tickets are $25-50 and available at nctcsf.org, emailing boxoffice@nctcsf.org or by calling (415) 861-8972.

For the world premiere of This Bitter Earth, NCTC is proud to partner with the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD). Following the success of their partnership on last season's world premiere of Leaving the Blues by Jewelle Gomez, NCTC and MoAD will present A Glimpse of 'Earth,' a special evening featuring an excerpt from This Bitter Earth and an interview with the playwright moderated by Gomez. A Glimpse of 'Earth' will be Tuesday, October 3, 2017 at 7pm at MoAD, and is complimentary to MoAD members and NCTC subscribers.

In addition to A Glimpse of 'Earth', audiences can enjoy these special events during the run of the show:

Minority Korner Podcast Live!

Special recording of the popular new podcast about Race, Gender, and the LGBTQ community - live at NCTC!

Saturday, September 23, 6:30-7:30pm. Complimentary with purchase of a ticket to the September 23performance of This Bitter Earth. RSVP required.

Onstage Insight, Post-Show Panel Discussions after the following performances:

Sunday, October 8 at 2pm- Panel discussion featuring the cast, moderated by the play's director.

Low-cost Previews: Friday, September 22 - Friday, September 29.

Opening Night will take place on Saturday, September 30 at 8pm. The performance will be followed by a reception catered by 17-18 Season Restaurant Sponsor, Mina's Brazilian.

More events to be announced!

Playwright Harrison David Rivers was hailed by NYTheatre.com as "a refreshing, authentic voice" and has had plays performed and developed at The Public Theater, New York Theatre Workshop, Lincoln Center, P73, LAByrinth Theatre Company, The Drama League, New York Stage & Film, The National Black Theatre, Classical Theatre of Harlem, Harlem Stage, Diversionary Theatre (San Diego), About Face (Chicago), TheatreLAB (Richmond), The Playwrights' Center, Theatre Latte Da, Pillsbury House (Minneapolis), Williamstown Theatre Festival and The American Airlines Theatre on Broadway. Awards include the McKnight Fellowship for Playwrights, the Many Voices Jerome Fellowship, New Dramatists' Van Lier Fellowship, New York Theatre Workshop's Emerging Artist of Color Fellowship, Aurora Theatre's Global Age Project Prize, New York Stage and Film's Founders Award, and a GLAAD Media Award. Rivers was the 2016 Playwright-in-Residence at Williamstown Theatre Festival, currently is a Core Writer at the Playwrights' Center, and lives in St. Paul, Minnesota.

The cast of This Bitter Earth includes H. Adam Harris and Michael Hanna.

This Bitter Earth will feature scenic design by Devin Kasper, costume design by Keri Fitch, lighting design by Robert Hahn, sound design by James Ard, projection design by Sarah Phykitt, prop design by Ting Na Wang, and stage management by Kaitlin Rosen.

NCTC's New Play Development was created in 2002 to commission and develop new work to expand the canon of LGBT-themed plays, give voice to new and diverse playwrights, and add to the list of over 40 World Premieres NCTC has produced since 1981. Past commissions include plays by Terrence McNally, JC Lee, and Jewelle Gomez. The Lab is currently developing a new play by Ryan Fogarty.

New Conservatory Theatre Center has been San Francisco's premier LGBTQIA and allied performing arts institution and progressive arts education conservatory since 1981. NCTC is renowned for its diverse range of innovative, high-quality productions, touring productions and shows for young audiences; its foundational anti-bullying work with youth and educators through YouthAware; and its commitment to developing new plays to continue expanding the canon of queer and allied dramatic work.

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