Theatre Off Jackson Presents THE BUNNER SISTERS 9/18-10/05

Athena Theatre Project and Theatre Off Jackson present THE BUNNER SISTERS from the novella by Edith Wharton adapted and directed by Julie Beckman, September 18-October 5.

Theatre Off Jackson, 409 7th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104 Performances are at varying times with matinees and evening shows.

TICKETS: $22 advance, $15 student/senior/TPS, www.thebunnersisters.brownpapertickets.com

Set in New York in 1896, The Bunner Sisters tells the story of two working class sisters, Ann Eliza and Evelina Bunner (Marty Mukhalian and Annette Toutonghi), who have made a simple life for themselves by running a small basement shop. Ann Eliza's purchase of a clock for Evelina's birthday draws the sisters into a relationship with the mysterious Herman Ramy (Jim Gall), a German clock-maker in a neighboring storefront, and the tenuous threads that hold their lives together begin to unravel. The cast also features Seattle favorites Megan Ahiers, Susanna Burney, and Marianna DeFazio.

This world premiere examines the powerful and intimate relationship between sisters, and how their fates are inextricable tied even when life pulls them apart. The adaptation is unique in its exploration of how the writer (a young Edith Wharton) develops her own voice through her exploration of the lives of her characters.

Edith Wharton: (1862-1937) Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist and short story writer, most famous for her incisive look at the New York elite in the novels The Age of Innocence and The House of Mirth, and for her numerous ghost stories. She wrote The Bunner Sisters in the mid 1890's, but it was not published until 1916.

Athena Theatre Project: Seattle's newest theatre company focuses on giving voice to writers and characters who have been under-represented on Seattle stages. Athena Theatre Project is an associated program of Sandbox and Freehold Lab Studio.* Theatre Off Jackson ensures that a vibrant arts culture thrives in Seattle by operating a sustainable venue dedicated to performance, art and community. The two organizations have joined together to launch this world premiere production.

Julie Beckman is the director and adapter. Recent directing work includes A Small Fire with Sound Theatre Company and Fifth of July with Theatre22. Directing work with Strawberry Theatre Workshop includes The Bells (which received three 2012 Seattle Times Footlight Awards), The Elephant Man (4 Gregory nominations in 2009) and Fellow Passengers (2005). Her adaptations include Jane Eyre, Hard Times, Waxwings, "The Spouter Inn," and "Glory in the Daytime" for Book-It, as well as "Next Door," "The Celestial Omnibus" and "The Star" for Porcupine Productions in Chicago. She has also directed for 14/48, Stone Soup Theatre, Theater Schmeater, Our American Theatre, the Young Playwrights Festival at ACT, Seattle Public Theatre, UW, and Cornish. Her work has also been seen in Chicago, Washington, D.C, Cincinnati, Atlanta and St. Louis, and recently at the Royal Manitoba Theatre in Winnipeg.

The Bunner Sisters team: Set Design: Phillip Lienau Costume Design: Ron Erickson Sound Design: Evan Mosher and Andre Nelson Lighting Design: Emily Leong Projection Design: Suzi Tucker Prop Master: Ryan Gelskey Stage Manager: Julianna Brei-Crawley Associate Producer: Corey McDaniel

*Freehold Theatre Lab Studio is a 501 c3 non-profit arts organization whose mission is to engage artists of all levels in training and experimentation so that they may become more innovative and heartfelt in generating theatre that has a lasting impact on the community we serve.

Visit: athenatheatreproject.org for more information.

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