Mirror Stage's Feed Your Mind Series Continues with IMPENETRABLE, 3/9-10

Mirror Stage continues its popular Feed Your Mind staged reading series with the West Coast premiere of Impenetrable by Mia McCullough at the Ethnic Cultural Theatre on March 9 and 10, 2013. Directed by Suzanne M. Cohen, Feed Your Mind: Impenetrable features Emily Grogan (Julie), Patrick Lennon (Pete), David Natale (Mourad), Rachel Permann (Andie), Tessa Weinland (Cari) and one additional actress to be announced.

Based on actual events, Impenetrable takes on society's obsession with appearance in a compelling yet deeply funny way. A local spa's billboard dissects a gorgeous, bikini-clad woman highlighting "problems" and offering cosmetic "solutions," outraging the residents of a well-to-do suburb. Raising the debate about advertising, media and the ways in which our youth- and beauty-obsessed culture affects self-worth, this single image irrevocably changes the town and its residents' perceptions of themselves. Following its critically acclaimed World premiere at Stage Left Theatre in Chicago, Mirror Stage is honored to present the West Coast premiere from Mirror Stage favorite Mia McCullough (Chagrin Falls, Echoes of Another Man, Spare Change, and Anatomy of Pain).

Mia McCullough's plays have been produced in Chicago at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Stage Left Theatre, and Chicago Dramatists; and around the country at theatres such as Actors' Express in Atlanta, InterAct in Philadelphia, Mo'olelo Performing Arts Company in San Diego, the Victory Theatre in Los Angeles, and Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival. Impenetrable is the fifth script by Ms. McCullough to be presented in the Feed Your Mind series following Chagrin Falls in 2005, Echoes of Another Man in 2006, Spare Change in 2007, and The Anatomy of Pain in 2012. Her break-through play Chagrin Falls garnered many awards including the American Theatre Critics Association Osborn Award, first prize in the Julie Harris Playwriting Competition, and a Joseph Jefferson Citation for New Work. Since Africa was commissioned by the Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival and was a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, and a nominee for a Joseph Jefferson Award for Best New Play. Ms. McCullough is currently adjunct faculty at Northwestern University, a resident playwright at Chicago Dramatists and a member of the Dramatists Guild.

Mirror Stage's innovative Feed Your Mind series of staged readings examines topical issues from different perspectives. The plays are presented simply: no costumes or sets-just the actors and the text. Following every performance, a moderated discussion with the audience and artists further explores the issues raised in more depth.

The Ethnic Cultural Theatre is located at 3940 Brooklyn Ave NE in Seattle. Performances will be Saturday at 8:00pm and Sunday at 2:00pm. Saturday admission is $10, and Sunday admission is $8. Half-price tickets are available for Senior Citizens and students, and every performance has 10 Pay-What-You-Can rush tickets ($1 minimum) for purchase at the door. Free parking is available in University of Washington's lot W12, located at just south of the Ethnic Cultural Theater on Brooklyn Ave NE. For more information, visit www.mirrorstage.org/impenetrable.

Originally founded in 1991, Mirror Stage is a small professional theatre company reflecting the diversity of the community on stage in high quality, progressive, thought-provoking productions that play it smart without always playing it safe. The mission of Mirror Stage is to use the power of theatre to challenge assumptions, bias and prejudice, while encouraging more thoughtful reflection on today's issues. We nurture unique artistic voices while providing opportunities for newly emerging artists to work alongside more seasoned professionals. More at www.mirrorstage.org.

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