BLOOD PRIVILEGE Premieres at Second Skin Theatre, Feb 6-24

Orphaned and vulnerable early in life, Elizabeth Bathory rose to become one of the most powerful women in Europe. However, she was not left untouched by her struggle and, possibly insane, she is reputed to have tortured and murdered over 600 women.

Bathory's life was one of the inspirations behind the vampire myths, including Sheridan Le Fanu's Carmilla and Bram Stoker's Dracula.

In Blood Privilege, playwright Don Fried looks behind the legend to where truth, myth and horror collide. The play explores the corruption that comes with absolute power and the doom that pursues those who seek it.

Blood Privilege Director Andy McQuade is the co-founder of Second Skin Theatre, which is known in London for presenting dark, visceral work. He is the winner of the 2012 award for Best Theatre Director, Fringe Report (London). Second Skin Theatre commissioned award-winning playwright Fried to write Blood Privilege and, following the New York premiere, will present the play at its home theater in London.

"When I started researching Bathory's story, I kept seeing parallels to the current global crisis around the concentration and abuse of wealth and power in the hands of a tiny global elite. Although Blood Privilege is a period piece set in the 17th century, it's not far away from what's happening today and will, undoubtedly, happen tomorrow." - Don Fried

Blood Privilege plays at the Richmond Shepard Theatre, 309 E 26th Street (between
1st and 2nd Avenue), February 6 - 24. Performances are Wednesday - Saturday evenings at 8:00 pm, with Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3:00 pm.

Tickets are $20 General Admission and $17 for Seniors (65+) and Students with ID.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.brownpapertickets.com, or by phoning
1-800-838-3006. For more information, phone 303-815-6164.