Media Contact: Peggy Kearns | tel: 571.216.5136 | email: ScenaMedia@gmail.com
Scena Theatre presents the intense and provocative drama, Antigone Now, by the internationally-acclaimed playwright from Slovenia, Evald Flisar.
RSVP now for Press Night: Saturday, March 26, 2016 at 8:00 pm: ScenaMedia@gmail.com
Washington, DC, February 10, 2016 — The Directors of Scena Theatre are delighted to present the powerful stage drama, Antigone Now, by Slovenia's premier playwright, Evald Flisar. This acclaimed play is being produced at the ATLAS Performing Arts Center (Lab II Theatre) for a short run previewing Thursday, March 24th and Friday March 24th, and officially opening on Saturday, March 26 through Saturday April 2, 2016.
Washington-area patrons have a wonderful opportunity to see this bold production before Scena takes it on a European tour to the prestigious International Festival of Slovenian drama – Kranj. Scena has the distinction and honor to be the first US theatre company to be invited to this renowned drama festival. In tandem with shows in Kranj and Ljubljana, Slovenia, Scena will tour this production in Trieste, Italy and Graz, Austria.
With Antigone Now, Scena continues a 29-year tradition of staging bold, international plays between the US and Europe. We began touring Eastern Europe with Drago Jancar's Stakeout at Godot's in repertory with David Mamet's American Buffalo. We brought the first production of Orestes to Thessaloniki, Greece. And we've toured Otho Eskin’s Duet, Wallace Shawn's The Fever, and Franz Kafka's Report to an Academy.
Artistic Director Robert McNamara noted that this exclusive invitation reinforces Scena Theatre’s reputation and legacy as Washington’s premier international theatre company. “I’m humbled, honored and thrilled all at once.”
PLOT: Clara lives in a Mediterranean seaside village. Her uncle, the Mayor, strikes a deal with foreign investors to build a golf course and hotel to create jobs and prosperity. But first, he must demolish the local graveyard and move the corpses to a crematorium he intends to build. Clara refuses to surrender her departed brother's grave—and an intense confrontation unfolds. Can the common good win without destroying personal values?
Press: Press / Opening Night for Antigone Now is Saturday, March 26 at 8 pm. Please RSVP to ScenaMedia@gmail.com to review the production or to schedule an alternate date.
Previews: Thursday, March 24th: 8:00pm - 9:30pm and Friday, March 25th: 8:00pm - 9:30pm.
Shows: Saturday, March 26th (PRESS / OPENING NIGHT): 8:00pm - 9:30pm, reception to follow
Sunday, March 27th (EASTER): 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Wednesday, March 30th: 8:00pm - 9:30pm
Thursday, March 31st: 8:00pm - 9:30pm
Friday, April 1st: 8:00pm - 9:30pm
Saturday, April 2nd (CLOSING): 8:00pm - 9:30pm
Venue: ATLAS Performing Arts Center (LAB II Theatre): 1333 H Street NE, Washington, DC 20002
Press: Email: ScenaMedia@gmail.com, call 571.216.5136, or click on Press link (at left) for Press Photos
Tickets: Buy online at atlasarts.org or reserve by Phone: 202.399.7993 x2
Price: $20 – $40
Parking: Valet Parking is available at 1353 H Street NE (Rock & Roll Hotel, a few doors down). If driving, side-street parking is suggested (Maryland Ave, 10th–12th Streets, etc.). Also, the X2 Metrobus runs down H Street. Visit www.wmata.com for schedules.
Actors: Featuring Brian Hemmingsen, Stas Wronka*, Joe Palka, Danielle Davy*, Ron Litman*, Matt Dougherty, Kim Curtis, Joseph Carlson*, Amanda Forstrom & Colin Davies. *AEA - Actors' Equity Association
Designers: Robert McNamara (Director), Lena Salins (Production Manager), Michael Stepowany (Set Design), Dean Leong (Tech Director), Marianne Meadows (Lighting Design), Denise Rose (Sound Design), Anne Nottage (Assistant Director), and Natalie Nichols (Stage Manager)..
About the Playwright
Evald Flisar was born in 1945 in Slovenia. He is a novelist, playwright, essayist, editor, and globetrotter (as he has travelled to more than 90 countries). He is also the editor of an encyclopaedia of science and invention in London (among other publications), author of short stories and radio plays for the BBC, president (1995 – 2002) of the Slovene Writers’ Association, and, since 1998 he has been the editor of the oldest Slovenian literary journal Sodobnost (Contemporary Review). Evald is the author of 12 novels (eight were nominated for Kresnik, the Slovenian “Booker”) as well as two collections of short stories, three travelogues (regarded as the best in Slovenian travel writing), two books for children (both nominated for awards), and 15 stage plays (seven of which were nominated for “Best Play of the Year” and three of which that won). He is winner of the Prešeren Foundation Prize—the highest state award for prose and drama, the prestigious Župančič Award for lifetime achievement, and winner of three awards for Best Radio Play. His various works have been translated into 34 languages, among them Bengali, Malay, Nepalese, Indonesian, Turkish, Greek, Japanese, Chinese, Arabic, Czech, Albanian, Lithuanian, Icelandic, Russian, English, German, Italian, Spanish, and more. Evald’s stage plays are regularly performed around the world—most recently in Austria, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Belarus. Evald has attended more than 50 literary readings and festivals on all continents. He lived abroad for 20 years (three years in Australia where he an underground train driver in Sydney and 17 years in London). Since 1990, he has been a resident in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Evald is thrilled to have Antigone Now produced in Washington, DC.
About Scena Theatre
Scena is the premier international theatre in Washington, DC. It brings world-class drama to the US and stimulates cultural exchange between theatre artists, locally and worldwide. Scena also tours many of its acclaimed productions to Europe. Founded in 1987 under the leadership of Artistic Director Robert McNamara and Managing Director Amy Schmidt, Scena produces an annual season of plays, seasonally staged readings, as well as a Workshop Series aimed at developing new works from around the globe. To learn more about our mission or past stage productions, please call 703.684.7990 or visit www.ScenaTheatre.org.
###