Theater Alliance to Open 12th Season with SPARK, 9/4-28

Theater Alliance will open its 12th Season with the World Premiere of Spark by Obie Award-winning playwright Caridad Svich. This gritty, powerful drama tells the story of a veteran returning from war, and the ongoing battle of her and her family to overcome economic challenges, emotional conflict, and the spectre of war that haunts them. Spark also opens a deeper dialogue about a society's responsibility to address its veteran's physical, emotional, and mental needs and break the cycle of abandonment in families.

Directed by Producing Artistic Director Colin Hovde, Spark will feature Anna Lathrop as returning soldier Lexie Glimord. Lexie returns to her home and sisters in North Carolina, where their dreams are threatened by a lack of understanding, economic opportunity, and hope. Sarah Strasser and Alison Donnelly portray the other Glimord sisters, Evelyn and Ali. Carlos Saldaña as Hector and Addison Switzer as Vaughn round out the cast. Can the Glimord girls overcome the deck that seems stacked against them and pursue their dreams, or are they condemned to be sucked into the cycle of abandonment that threatens them?

Spark will run at the Anacostia Playhouse, 2020 Shannon PL SE, from September 4 - September 28 2014: Thursdays and Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 2pm and 8pm, and Sundays at 2pm.

Theater Alliance's mission is to develop, produce and present socially conscious, thought-provoking work that fully engages our community in active dialogue. "Spark explores very important emotional and economic issues facing so many military families while at the same time being a stunningly beautiful piece of theater," Says Colin Hovde Producing Artistic Director "It explores so many important issues through the lens of a tightly-written family drama. Caridad's writing expertly weaves poetry, song and a need to communicate, as these three sisters fight for a way to survive and thrive."

Spark was commissioned by an independent team of fellow artists. It was developed, in part, at the Lark Play Development Center and New Dramatists in New York City and through a NoPassport theatre alliance international reading scheme in collaboration with over thirty arts organizations with lead dramaturg Zac Kline and line producer Lanie Zipoy, and additionally with TECL and Mannatee Films at the Cherry Lane Theatre. Spark received the 2013 National Latino Playwriting Award and the 2013 Todd McNerney Playwriting Award.

This performance contains material not suitable for children; recommended for ages 16 and up.