freeFall Closes Out a Season of True Lives with David Adjmi's MARIE ANTOINETTE

freeFall Theatre concludes their season of plays and musicals inspired by true stories with David Adjmi's MARIE ANTOINETTE playing July 15 through August 13. This pulsating contemporary look at one of history's most enigmatic pariahs puts Marie Antoinette under the microscope of our own society's obsession with celebrity. While Marie distracts herself with fanciful and decadent diversions in Versailles, the "have-nots" grow increasingly intolerant of the excesses of the "haves." David Adjmi's driving script lets loose a barrage of energy, wit, pageantry, and humor as the players are catapulted toward the title character's inevitable end. Perhaps we too raise our celebrities to great heights in order to watch them fall.

"I never could have guessed when I programmed this play in our season that its relevance would become even deeper. When I first read and selected it, it was relevant in the way that it interrogated the nature of our celebrity-obsessed culture. It shone such a stark light on many of the dynamics we see in our culture where questions of what makes a celebrity and what celebrities owe to the public are concerned. But since that time, a leader has been elected who came into office with the same kind of celebrity status. That only makes the themes this play explores more relevant." - Eric Davis, director of Marie Antoinette/freeFall Artistic Director

The complete cast includes Megan Therese Rippey as Marie Antoinette, Stephan Jones as Joseph/Sauce/Guard/Revolutionary, Heather Baird as Yolande/Mrs. Sauce, Matthew McGee as The Sheep, Lucas Wells as Louis XVI, Ariel Reich as Therese/Royalist, Wiliam Garrabrant as the Dauphin, and Haulston Mann as Axel/Executioner/Guard/Rev.

ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT

David Adjmi's MARIE ANTOINETTE received a world premiere co-production with A.R.T. and Yale Rep (3 Connecticut Critics Circle Awards including Best Play) and received a NY premiere at Soho Rep in fall 2013. Other plays include Elective Affinites (Royal Shakespeare Company, Soho Rep), 3C (Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre), Stunning (Lincoln Center Theater, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company), The Evildoers (Sundance, Yale Rep), Caligula (Soho Rep Studio Series), and Strange Attractors (Empty Space). Stunning and Other Plays is published by TCG and his work is included in The Methuen Drama Book of New American Plays.

ENRICHMENT EVENTS

There will be talkbacks after every Friday evening performance (except for opening weekend) with director, cast and crew moderated by Jim Rayfield. freeFall 411 pre-show sessions take place on Wednesday nights, Thursday nights, Saturday matinees and Sunday matinees beginning July 19 . These sessions feature a pre-show discussion with a cast member. freeFall 411 takes place one hour before curtain. freeFall dramaturg Timothy Saunders will give two enrichment lectures on August 6 and August 13 at 1pm. All enrichment events are open to the public and absolutely FREE.

Tickets can be obtained by contacting the freeFall box office. Ticket prices range from $37 to $52 depending on date and time of performance. Visit www.freefalltheatre.com for more information on ticket prices and to view our calendar. There are discounts for seniors, teachers, students and members of the military. Rush tickets available for students and members of Actor's Equity Association (id required). Group rates and information can be obtained by contacting Matthew at 727-498-5205 X 7.

For more information and tickets visit www.freefalltheatre.com or call (727) 498-5205.

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