Photo Flash: Swallow THE PILL at La MaMa

La MaMa (Mia Yoo, Artistic Director), the multiple Obie, Drama Desk and Bessie Award-winning Off- Broadway theater, is thrilled to announce the world premiere of The Pill, conceived by Marla Mase and written by The Family. A family memoir featuring original music by composer and producer Toma?s Doncker of True Groove, performances of The Pill will begin Thursday, January 25. This strictly limited engagement will play through Sunday, February 4.

When Sylvia accidentally takes her anorexic daughter's antidepressant, panic and pandemonium ensue. A story about the cataclysms of depression, fear, and anxiety, and their dynamic intersections with eating disorder and suicidal ideation, The Pill is a true story written by 5 members of THE FAMILY - a comic and tragic mash-up of three generations take on living and dying in a post-truth dysfunctional world.

"Like Sylvia, I made the mistake of accidentally taking my daughter's medication," says musician, playwright and conceiver of the play, Marla Mase. "I freaked out. I had these irrational fears about medications - not for other people but for myself - so when I realized what I had done, I screamed and begged my daughter to help me throw it up. In the midst of all this chaos, Marla had the presence of mind to see that what was happening was both absurdly ridiculous and supremely funny.

"Here I am," Marla continues, "begging my anorexic/bulimic daughter to show me how to throw up. I told my kids, 'this is going into a play one day.'" Eight years later, her son Yanai heeded the call and

retold the story of the event in teleplay form. After reading her son's teleplay Marla wrote her version and then asked her daughter and parents to write their own versions of what happened. Out of those five pieces a singular play emerged.

The Pill will be directed by Randolph Curtis Rand, and will feature an ensemble cast of actors led by 2017 NYMF Award-winner for Outstanding Performance Zoe Wilson (Play Like A Winner, "Orange Is the New Black") as the teenaged Leni and Obie Award-winner Winsome Brown as her mother, Sylvia Salk. The pair will be joined on stage by TrevorLive guest artists Joshua Turchin (A Christmas Story), Broadway veteran Roger Rathburn (No, No, Nanette), Drama Desk Award-winner Graham Stevens (In Transit); Adam Patterson (CasablancaBox); and Marina Re (Irrational Man, directed by Woody Allen)

Tickets for the world premiere of The Pill are $25 for Adults and $20 for Students and Seniors (plus a $1 facility fee) and are available at www.lamama.org or by phone via OvationTix at 212-352-3101.

For more information about The Pill please visit www.ThePillThePlay.com

Photo Credit: Theo Cote

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