UW Drama and Washington Ensemble Theatre Team for Workshop of Taylor Mac's THE WALK ACROSS AMERICA FOR MOTHER EARTH

As part of its 75th Anniversary Season, the University of Washington School of Drama is collaborating or co-producing with regional theatres that have grown out of the School or been significantly impacted by the School's alumni. Our second co-production of the season is a workshop production of Taylor Mac's THE WALK ACROSS AMERICA FOR MOTHER EARTH, in partnership with Washington Ensemble Theatre.

Current members of Washington Ensemble Theatre worked with the School of Drama leadership to select the play. The ensemble's current co-artistic director Ali el-Gasseir will direct the production with a mixed cast and creative team comprised of Washington Ensemble members and UW Drama graduate and undergraduate students.

"What originally drew me to this play was the fact that it was a journey," states el-Gasseir. "I love adventures and Taylor Mac's bittersweet sense of humor towards the American revolutionary spirit of protest resonates deeply with Washington Ensemble Theatre. We love revolution and celebrate youthful rebellion while simultaneously harboring doubts and fears about its efficacy."

THE WALK ACROSS AMERICA FOR MOTHER EARTH, written by Taylor Mac, with music by Ellen Maddow, was originally produced in January 2011 by The Talking Band and La Mama ETC in New York City. It is a blend of political activism, drag show, and commedia dell'arte that tells the story of two young friends fleeing their suburban upbringing in "Real America" to join a ragtag group of activists on a protest march from D.C. to Nevada. On the road, the group attempts to establish a nomadic utopia, but the marchers continually find themselves divided by unrequited affections, indecision, and a secret hunger for power.

THE WALK ACROSS AMERICA FOR MOTHER EARTH opens February 24 and runs through February 28. Performances are Wednesday-Saturday at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 2 pm. Tickets range from $12-20 and are available online or over the phone through the ArtsUW Ticket Office, 206-543-4880 / drama.uw.edu/performances. The ArtsUW Ticket Office is located at 1313 NE 41st Street, open Monday-Friday, 11 am-6 pm.

Performances are in the Glenn Hughes Penthouse Theatre, located on the UW campus near the north entrance at NE 45th St. and 17th Ave. NE.

Washington Ensemble Theatre was founded in 2004 by a group of UW School of Drama alumni including Darrick Clayton, Heidi Ganser, Marya Sea Kaminski, Marc Kenison, Anya-Marie Ruoss, Jonathan Martin, Patricia Nelson, Michael Place, Matt Starritt, Jessica Trundy, Lathrop Walker, and Jennifer Zeyl. Washington Ensemble Theatre is currently producing their twelfth season in their new home at 12th Avenue Arts on Capitol Hill.

The ensemble has evolved over the years and all the founding members have moved on to other ventures. However, new batches of UW Drama alums seem to get involved every few years. Current alum ensemble members include Bobbin Ramsey (BA '13), James Schreck (BA '11), and Shaudi Vahdat (BA '12).

The UW School of Drama develops innovative and courageous artists and scholars poised to be the creative leaders of tomorrow.

For 75 years it has served as one of this country's leading training institutions for theatre artists and scholars. The School of Drama offers MFA degrees in acting, design, and directing, a four-year undergraduate liberal arts education in Drama, and a PhD in theatre history and criticism. Faculty and alumni have founded theatres such as ACT-A Contemporary Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, The Empty Space Theatre, Jet City Improv, and more recently, the Washington Ensemble Theatre, Azeotrope, and The Horse in Motion.

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