Steven Fechter's THE MENTEE Makes World Premiere in NYC, Now thru 10/28

Thom Fogarty will direct the World Premeire of THE MENTEE by Steven Fechter (THE WOODSMAN and THE ARTIFACTS), which will be presented tonight, October 17 through October 28, 2012 by Other Side Productions and Thom Fogarty. This intimate 'black box' production of Steven Fechter's exciting new work has a cast of three--Walter Brandes, Lulu Fogarty, and Christine Verleny--with music by Francesca Beghe, and costume, lighting and stage design by Thom Fogarty.

In THE MENTEE a storm rages. A stranger arrives. A lonely widow and her teenaged daughter let him in. The stranger makes disturbing claims: that the widow's husband was his teacher; that he knows the widow well; that the daughter looks nothing like her father. The widow wants him to leave. The daughter wants him to stay. Lies are told, secrets are revealed: a mysterious death, a traumatic birth, a haunted room, and illicit sex. The stranger remains, dreaming of the future. He's on a mission. He's the mentee. "What does my body sound like, Chet? Does it hum? Or does it whistle?"

THE MENTEE continues Steven Fechter and director Thom Forgarty's shared exploration of powerful female characters and the enduring artistic soul.

Director Thom Fogarty brings his particular sensibility to this mysterious piece. His work, based in movement and told in an inherently theatrical style, has always dealt with the vastness of human conditions as told through the observance of small everyday gestures and their meanings. This shorthand movement vocabulary (consisting of traditional miming and gestures that are easily identifiable) allows the actors to be both profane and profound at the same time, constantly creating a duality acknowledging the Yin and Yang in daily life. His aim is to simultaneously make one laugh while another is moved to tears.

THE MENTEE runs for 12 performances from tonight, October 17 to October 28 at The Bridge Theatre @ Shetler Studios (244 W 54th Street, 12th Floor). Performances are on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 7pm, Saturdays at 2pm and 7pm and Sundays at 3pm. Tickets are $18 (or industry card). For reservations, call 212-924-4142. THE MENTEE is 90 minutes long.

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