AliveWire Theatrics proudly presents the World Premiere of Besharet, written by Chana Porter and directed by Scott Rodrigue. Besharet is the company's inaugural theatrical production, and runs from March 5 - 27, 2011 in a limited engagement at the 9th Space theater, located at 150 1st Avenue (home of Performance Space 122) in NYC. Previews begin March 5 for a March 7 opening.
Performances are Thursdays - Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 3pm. Special opening night performance on Monday, March 7 at 7pm. Tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for students/seniors and can be purchased online at http://www.9thspace.org or by calling 212-352-3101. The March 12 donor evening includes a post-show reception (additional charges apply). Train access via the L to 1st Ave, F to 2nd Ave, N, R to 8th St, or 6 to Astor Place. For more information on the play visit http://www.indiegogo.com/Besharet.
When a man unknowingly summons the past to haunt him in the form of a mysterious stranger, he and those around him must confront truths they conceal from each other and lies they tell themselves. Drawing on Jewish mysticism and folklore, Besharet throws truth, love, faith, even gender and sexuality into crisis as a community is forced to grapple with horrific historical and personal events and face the schism between who they feel they should be and who they have become.
Craig Lucas (author of Light in the Piazza, Reckless, Prelude To A Kiss) called Besharet "Absolutely astonishing. Miraculous. Completely original and captivating."
Chana Porter is a playwright, co-founder of AliveWire Theatrics, and an avid collaborator. Her play Bird On A Wire, based on the life of the poet Gertrude Halstead, was developed at Dixon Place in 2010 where she was an artist-in-residence. She was a finalist for both the Juilliard Artist's Diploma and Yale's M.F.A in Playwriting in 2010. Book one of Chana's first graphic novel, The Ruthie Chronicles, with artist Delia Gable, will be published this summer. Currently Chana is in development with film director Kevan Tucker (The Unidentified) for their upcoming feature film, a love song to the city of Worcester, MA. Her other plays include Cannibals and Leap And The Net Will Appear.
Director Scott Rodrigue is a Developmental/Producing Director and co-founder of AliveWire Theatrics. As an artistic resident, he recently directed a workshop of Chana Porter's Bird On A Wire at Dixon Place. Beggar's Rain, which he directed at 13th Street Repertory Company in 2009, was named one of the summer's "Best bets for village arts events" by The Villager. The play was included in Urban Stages' Play Preview Series. He has also directed original shorts for Madair Productions, 13th Street Rep and Dixon Place.
The cast includes MacLeod Andrews (Slipping at Rattlestick, No End Of Blame with PTP/NYC), William Green (Twelfth Night and Much Ado About Nothing with Oberon Theater Co.), Olivia Rorick and Tia Stivala.
AliveWire Theatrics is an upstart theater company dedicated to developing and producing art that is connective, charged and current. Led by playwright Chana Porter and director Scott Rodrigue, AliveWire assembles new work to amplify current situations among an expanding network of artistic collaborators and new audiences. The company is dedicated to discovering and implementing new and evolving models to make these projects happen.
The creative and production team consists of Dan Snazelle (Sound Design), Eric Berninghausen (Set Design), Jason Miller (Lighting Design), Emily Peterson (Costume Design) and Erica Holts (Stage Manager).
AliveWire Theatrics will be presenting a reading series at 9th Space in March. The line-up will include Leap And The Net Will Appear by Chana Porter, directed by Craig Lucas, on March 14. Other plays in the series include The Paper Nautilus by Dan McClung, and Corner Pocket by Andy James Hoover, directed by Bridget Durkin (Executive Director of Extant Arts Company). Additional dates to be announced.
