Lorca in a Green Dress explores the spiritual aftermath of Federico García Lorcas tragic 1936 murder at the hands of Spanish fascists. Lorca, the great poet and playwright (Blood Wedding), arrives in a bizarre purgatory where he must face up to five different aspects of himself: Lorca in a Green Dress, Lorca in a White Suit, Lorca in Bicycle Pants, Lorca as a Woman, and a flamenco dancer. In poetic but ruthlessly honest terms, each plays a role in helping Lorca to accept the inevitable—his passage from life to death.
(PRWEB) June 30, 2005 -- This July, Renegade Theatre Experiment (RTE) kicks off its fourth and biggest season with the California Premiere of Nilo Cruzs Lorca in a Green Dress, a powerfully moving exploration of identity, art, sexuality, and mortality.
Lorca in a Green Dress explores the spiritual aftermath of Federico García Lorcas tragic 1936 murder at the hands of Spanish fascists. Lorca, the great poet and playwright (Blood Wedding), arrives in a bizarre purgatory where he must face up to five different aspects of himself: Lorca in a Green Dress, Lorca in a White Suit, Lorca in Bicycle Pants, Lorca as a Woman, and a flamenco dancer. In poetic but ruthlessly honest terms, each plays a role in helping Lorca to accept the inevitable—his passage from life to death.
Cuban-American playwright Nilo Cruz rose to prominence after winning the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Anna in the Tropics, perfomed on Broadway by Jimmy Smits and Daphne Rubin-Vega. Miami Herald crtic Christine Dolen raved about Cruzs poetic-evocative imagery, language that almost seems tactile," and the famed Robert Brustein of The New Republic gushed, Another gifted playwright joins the post-September 11 theater renaissance. Cruz seems to be that rare thing, a writer of force and intelligence who nevertheless manages to leaven his insights with innocence, decency, and humanity. His capacity to invest simple declarative prose with bursts of imagery reminds me of García Lorca…"
Lorca in a Green Dress, Cruzs follow-up to his Pulitzer winner, premiered at Ashland, Oregons acclaimed Oregon Shakespeare Festival in 2003. Bruce Weber of The New York Times wrote that Lorca in a Green Dress shares many of ‘Annas alluring qualities…frequently lovely dialogue, a sweet delight in Latin culture."
Renegade Theatres premiere California production is directed by Ed Trujillo. Trujillo was a founding member of Odyssey Stage Theatre and one time artistic director of Sonoma Vintage Theatre. He has worked with such professional companies as Seattle Group Theatre, Black Arts West, Creede Repertory Theatre and Sonoma Valley Shakespeare. Most recent directing projects have included As Is, The Mask of Hiroshima, For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf, Othello, Comedy Of Errors, West Side Story, Lysistrata, and Hamlet. He currently is a faculty member and chair of the Drama Area at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill. Trujillo comments about Cruzs magnificent piece All great artists are constantly pushing us, cajoling us, instilling us with the need to passionately understand and comprehend what it means to be living a full and meaningful life. Lorca in a Green Dress is not simply about Lorcas tragic death but also about lost dreams, hopes and a future denied. It also a warning to all who try repress, oppress, thwart, and legislate freedom and all of its manifestations."
Lorca in a Green Dress previews on July 14, and runs July 15-30 at the Historic Hoover Theater in San Jose. Performances begin at 8:00pm, except Sunday matinees at 2pm. Tickets for Lorca in a Green Dress are $18.00 General Admission (Thursdays and Sundays) and $20.00 General Admission (Fridays and Saturdays). Students and teachers, seniors, and Theatre Bay Area members qualify for discount tickets ($13 Thu/Sun & $15 Fri/Sat) with valid ID. Tickets and season subscriptions are on sale at www.renegadetheatre.com.
The Renegade Theatre Experiment (RTE) was founded in 2001 to bring edgy and entertaining new shows to the San José theatre community.
Publicity Photos: http://www.renegadetheatre.com/press/index.html
Contact: Whitney Stebbins
(408) 351-4440
wstebbins@renegadetheatre.com
An Invitation to the Media
Renegade Theatre Experiment proudly invites you to attend our preview performance of the California Premiere of Lorca in a Green Dress.
Lorca in a Green Dress by Nilo Cruz
July 14, 2005
Historic Hoover Theater
1635 Park Avenue
San José, CA 95126.
8:00 PM
This is a public preview with a paying audience
Media Response to RTE
Renegade Theatre Experiment:
A South Bay company thats already received notice from the press for its bold, unconventional productions." [Karen McKevitt, Theatre Bay Area, August 1, 2004]
It's already obvious from its résumé that Renegade Theatre Experiment is living up to its name, and to its mission of presenting unique works away from the mainstream." [Heather Zimmerman, Rose Garden Resident; June 5, 2003]
These self-professed renegades bring a new toy to town with some very serious talent in the wings." [W. Fred Crow, Milpitas Post; June 4, 2003]
Conserving Melissa by Tom Jacobson (Producer: RTE):
The production is renegade funky….funny and quirky, but never silly..." [Marianne Messina, San José Metro; August 4, 2004]
Macbeth, by William Shakespeare (Produced in partnership with City Lights Theatre Company):
…gave the audience an eye appealing and provocative banquet from which to feast…" [W. Fred Crow, Milpitas Post, April 22, 2004]
[Macbeth] offers a rare theatre moment in the form of one hair-raising cross slice that makes you wonder, ‘Is he OK? Thats good action" [Marianne Messina, San José Metro, April 28, 2004]
Goner, by Brian Parks (Producer: RTE):
Worth a look…Renegade Theatre Experiment lives up to its name with Goner…" [Karen DSouza, San José Mercury News, June 4, 2004]
The Renegade Theatre Experiment hit its stride….Irreverent and impossible, this production, presenting dark, wry, edgy humor, is akin to an over-caffeinated escapee from the local loony bin. This no-intermission offering is satire at its best." [W. Fred Crow, Milpitas Post, June 24, 2004]
Fact Sheet
Renegade Theatre Experiment presents the California Premiere of
Lorca in a Green Dress by Nilo Cruz
San José, CA, June 29, 2005
WHO: Renegade Theatre Experiment - San José-based theatre company with Bay Area cast. Cast:. Directed by Ed Trujillo.
WHAT: Fresh, surrealist poetic drama about mind, body, and soul—love, sex, memory, and death.
WHY: Be the first in the state to experience this powerfully moving story about one of the worlds greatest playwrights and written by a Pulitzer-Prize-winning dramatist.
WHEN: July 14 (Preview). July 15-30. Thursday thru Saturday performances will begin at 8:00 PM. Sunday matinee performances will begin at 2pm.
WHERE: Historic Hoover Theater, 1635 Park Avenue, San José, CA 95126. General Seating.
PRICE: Ticket Prices:
Thurs & Sun: $18.00 General Admission
$13 Student/Educator/Senior/TBA Discount Admission
Fri & Sat: $20.00 General Admission
$15 Student/Educator/Senior/TBA Discount Admission
Tickets available online (www.renegadetheatre.com) and at the door.
About Renegade Theatre
Committed to forward-thinking performance, Renegade Theatre Experiment builds creative partnerships with aspiring and established artists to bring unique, outstanding theatre to the Bay Area. Founded in 2001, when a group of alumni from Santa Clara University joined together to develop as actors, RTE continues to explore the human experience through established and fresh performance works which break with convention. RTEs artistic and critical successes have included Hear me Roar: Women's Images of Self - an exploration of women's body image and self-worth in American culture, Avery Crozier's Eat the Runt, and Brian Parks Goner. Renegade produced the World Premiere of Tom Jacobsons Conserving Melissa and the first North American production of the critically acclaimed show, The Dice House by Paul Lucas.
RTE continues in its tradition of brining exceptional, avant-garde productions to the South Bay by kicking off its 2005/2006 season with the California Premiere of Nilo Cruzs poetic and haunting piece, Lorca in a Green Dress. A tragic death is only the beginning of the journey for Federico García Lorca This is followed by the Bay Area Premiere of Skyscraper by David Auburn, a seriocomic piece that explores the impact of six strangers colliding on a rainy Chicago night. In November, RTE brings to the stage its very first Renegade family show with Roald Dahls The BFG (Big Friendly Giant), adapted for the stage by David Wood. Late one night, a giant snatches young Sophie from her orphanage, but don't worry, this giant is not like Fleshlumpeater giant or Bonecruncher giant that like to eat human beans. This giant is the Big Friendly Giant and together they start a magical journey that involves snozzcumbers, whizzpopping, and all things that are scrumdiddlyumptious! The season finishes strongly with the World Premiere of Erica Hemenways Waiting to Dance. Five women are brought to a room and reluctantly begin to share their tales in the hopes of answering the question of why they are there. Things that once seemed fairly clear suddenly become very complicated....
www.renegadetheatre.com
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