OEDIPUS REX XX/XY Opens 3/7 at La MaMa

What happens when Oedipus is a woman and Jocasta is a man? Driven by the belief that what was traditional in 429 BC is radical today, The Faux-Real Theatre Company searches beyond the Freudian notions of "boy loves mom," and re-examines Oedipus the King with modern eyes and ancient techniques, uncovering the fearful truths and the (occasionally comedic) grotesque ironies that Sophocles presented audiences 2000 years prior to the birth of psychology.

The Faux-Real Theatre Company (FRTC) who have been bringing avant-garde theatre to populist audiences since 1994, unveil their newest production: the ancient play OEDIPUS REX with a gender bending twist. It's classic theatre performed exactly as Sophocles intended...sort of. Men play all of the roles (including Love Interest/Mom Jocasta) just as the Greeks would have wanted it; only with Faux-Real, the role of Oedipus is played by a woman. Preview performances of OEDIPUS REX XX/XY will begin Thursday March 7th prior to an official press opening on March 10th at La MaMa's First Floor Theatre (74A East 4th Street) in Manhattan. Mark Greenfield, FRTC's Artistic Director, will direct.

Press dates for OEDIPUS REX xx/xy are: - Thursday, March 7 at 7:30pm
- Friday, March 8 at 7:30pm
- Saturday, March 9 at 7:30pm
- Sunday, March 10 at 7:30pm (opening)
(OEDIPUS REX xx/xy will continue to play through March 24)

Ancient Greek plays were presented at three-day-long Dionysian competitions (think "American Idol" but with everyone drunk and half-nude). In order to win these Bacchanalian Battles of the Bards, the performances had to be entertaining as well as edifying! Taking the text that serves as the blueprint for modern drama, and adding drums and bouzoukis, platform shoes and colorful costumes, wild masks and a fast-paced vibrant approach to acting, Faux-Real aims to take home the laurel wreath.

The cast is spearheaded by Stephanie Regina (as Oedipus) and Tony Naumovski (as Jocasta). The diverse multi-generational cast includes: Justin Dobies, Gökçen Gökçebag, Eric Gravez, Matt Ketai, Ara Morton (Joe Morton's son making his NY stage debut), Jy Murphy, Aidan Nelson, Jason Scott Quinn, Eric Rasmussen, Alejandro Santoni, Dorian Shorts, Manuel Simons and Derek RoBert Smith.

Design team for OEDIPUS REX XX/XY is Bessie Award winner Michael Casselli (set design), Lynda White (mask design), Irina Gets & Constance Tarbox (costume design), Kobun Kaluza (lighting design), with original music by Macedonian folk musician Tony Naumovski.

The Faux-Real Theatre Company has been making cutting-edge theatre exciting and accessible to New York audiences since 1994. Shows created include FUNBOX Times Square, Htebcam (Macbeth backwards), and William Shakespeare's Haunted House (a walk-through theatrical event that ran seasonally in NYC from 1996-2005). FRTC was most recently featured at SummerStage 2011 with their original adaptation of Jason and the Argonauts, performed in parks and amphitheaters throughout the city. In addition to his work with FRTC, Mark Greenfield has directed for and performed with Gorilla Rep, been the on-set writer for Drew Barrymore's film Whip It, and was the lead-actor in VEGAS: Based on a True Story (Official Selection, Venice Film Festival 2008). Mark can be seen in the upcoming 2013 film 200,000 Dirty co-starring with the Grammy winning rap artist Coolio.

La MaMa is a remarkable arts institution with a world-wide reputation for producing daring work in theater, dance, performance art, and music. Founded in 1961 by theater pioneer and legend, Ellen Stewart, La MaMa has produced and presented more than 3,200 theatrical productions to date and is a vital part of the fabric of cultural life in New York City and around the world. La MaMa provides a supportive home for artists and takes risks on unknown work. Artists such as Sam Shepard, Lanford Wilson, Philip Glass, Robert Wilson, Harvey Fierstein, Blue Man Group, David and Amy Sedaris began their careers at La MaMa. La MaMa has been honored with more than 30 OBIE Awards, dozens of Drama Desk and Bessie Awards, and, in 2006, Ellen Stewart was recognized with a special TONY Award for "Excellence in the Theatre."

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