“[Erik Ehn is] a theatrical visionary” -Celia Wren, American Theatre Magazine
Directed by John Moletress, co-created with force/collision
New York City: La MaMa ETC, November 10-18, 2012
Full casting and creative team is set for force/collision’s world premiere of Shape by Erik Ehn. Creative team includes playwright Erik Ehn (The Saint Plays, Maria Kizito), director John Moletress (2011 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre as co-founder of Factory 449), set designer Collin Ranney (2012 Helen Hayes Award nominee), lighting designer Ariel Benjamin and sound designer Derek Knoderer. The cast includes force/collision ensemble members Dane Figueroa Edidi, Frank Britton, Ilana Faye Silverstein, Karin Rosnizeck and Joshua Sticklin.
About Shape
Poetically imagist and defyingly theatrical, Shape begins in 1900 Ambrose Park, Brooklyn at the end days of “Black America”. “Black America” was a historically documented, vast spectacle of vaudeville dances, variety acts, folklore and songs with a cast of 500 African-Americans. Based loosely on the biographies of African-American vaudevillians Billy and Cordelia McClain, Shape concerns the life and labors of vaudevillian fairies exploited for their historical songs and dances, used by the dominant culture and abandoned at times of great need.
Shape is the final play in a series of 17 exploring themes of genocide and reconciliation. Beginning in Rwanda with the Tutsi genocide, moving through Central America and then to the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921, Soulographie- as the series is known is the culmination of the past two decades of Ehn’s work on the subject. The performance at La MaMa ETC will be in repertory with all 17 plays.
SHAPE Promo 2 from force/collision on Vimeo.
Creative/Production Team
John Moletress………………………………Director
Collin Ranney………………………………..Set/Costume Design
Ariel J. Benjamin…………………………….Lighting Design
Derek V. Knoderer………………………….Sound Design
Dane Figueroa Edidi……………………….Choreography
Brian R. Sekinger……………………………Production Stage Manager
Cast
Dane Figueroa Edidi……………………Cordelia McClain
Frank Britton………………………………Billy McClain
Dexter Hamlett……………………………Survivor
Josh Sticklin………………………………Journalist
Karin Rosnizeck………………………….French Journalist
Manu H. Kumasi…………………………Butler
S. Lewis Feemster………………………Maid
Julia Smith…………………………………Ensemble
Alex Witherow……………………………Ensemble
Luci Murphy………………………………Ensemble
Upcoming Performance (Click on La MaMa ETC for tickets/information)
11/14 7:00p La MaMa ETC 74A East 4th Street
(btw Bowery & 2nd Ave)
New York, NY 10003
11/18 2:00p La MaMa ETC
Past Performances
9/20-10/6 Atlas Performing Arts Center, Washington, D.C.
7/4-7/8 Burning Coal Theatre, Raleigh, N.C.
Read more about SHAPE in the July/August 2012 issue of AMERICAN THEATRE MAGAZINE
