WORD for WORD 2016 Kicks Off 2/27

Word for Word opens the company's 2016 season with the work of two powerful contemporary writers, Emma Donoghue and Colm Tóibín. The evening-length performance is entitled Stories by Emma Donoghue and Colm Tóibín: "Night Vision" by Emma Donoghue and "Silence" by Colm Tóibín. The production opens with a press night on Saturday February 27 and runs through April 3 in San Francisco's Z Below Theater. "Both Irish, and transplanted writers, Emma Donoghue and Colm Tóibín have taken historical moments and let the empathy of their imaginations and the curiosity of their research create stories of two unique women. Each of these writers has a film currently in release and based on their novels: Donoghue'sRoom, and Tóibín's Brooklyn. These two films show the writers' incredible empathy for the ravages of the heart and the amazing power of love over adversity.' remarks Co-Artistic director Susan Harloe.

Culled from historic fact, both of the production's stories deal with writers and their adversities. "Night Vision," by Emma Donoghue, tells of young, blind Frances Browne who thrived on education when it was allowed her, and whose determination made her one of Ireland's most renowned poets. In "Silence", Tóibín recreates the story of the intense love-affair between Lady Gregory (founder of the Abbey Theater in Dublin) and the young poet Wilfrid Scawen Blunt. Their affair was secretly revealed in the love-poems she gave Blunt to publish as his own work. Lady Gregory's self-containment and reserved passion are impressively imagined: women's interior lives are one of Tóibín's great strengths.

"Night Vision" by Emma Donoghue (from her collection The Woman Who Gave Birth to Rabbits) is directed by Becca Wolff**. "Silence" by Colm Tóibín (from his collection The Empty Family),is directed by Jim Cave. The production features actors Stephanie Hunt*, Robert Sicular*, Rudy Guerrero*, Patricia Silver*, Richard Farrell* and Roselyn Hallett**. The production is realized with scenic design by Jacqueline Scott, lighting by Jeff Rowlings, costumes by Callie Floor and dialect by Lynne Soffer.

*Member AEA; **Word for Word Associate Artist

Word for Word presents:

Stories by Emma Donoghue and Colm Tóibín:

"Night Vision" by Emma Donoghue and "Silence" by Colm Tóibín

February 27- April 3 (Previews Feb 24-25-26), Press Night Saturday February 27, 8pm

At: Z Below, Z Space's second venue, at 470 Florida St..

Performances; Wednesday-Thursday 7 pm, Friday-Saturday 8 pm, Sunday 3 pm

Ticket prices: $35- $55, previews $20 Tickets:866.811.4111 or at www.zspace.org

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