A RIVER to Make NYC Debut in Manhattan Rep's Spring One Act Festival, 3/30-4/2

19 March 2015 - On March 30th, 31st, April 1st, and April 2nd, A River, a new play by Michael Joel, will make its New York debut as part of the Spring One Act Festival at the Manhattan Repertory Theatre. The play features Aryana Sedarati, Kaitlin Overton, David Acosta, and Matt Petrucelli.

All of the actors are former theatre students at Montclair State University; all but one were also in Joel's last play, Youth + Blood + Roses, which made its New York debut at the Venus/Adonis Theatre Festival at the Robert Moss Theatre in January. "A River is a lot different than Youth + Blood + Roses not only because of its length, but it incorporates physical movement in a way that our last show did not," says actor Kaitlin Overton. "This show is not only about the dialogue between the two characters, but how the river is there for them as an object in nature they come across. I think it comforts them, but scares them, too, which is what life does to all of us as human beings," Overton says of the play.

The play chronicles a brief meeting between two young people on the bank of the same river who face the realities of adulthood. Like a river keeps flowing, so must life.

This is the second play Michael Joel has debuted in New York this year. His last play Youth + Blood + Roses was an adaptation of Anton Chekhov's Uncle Vanya. Joel says of A River, that "like Youth + Blood + Roses, it deals with the same general topics of the transition into adulthood, however, it uses nature as a metaphor. It allows the audience to see our point of view from a different perspective and in a completely different setting."

Joel is also co-founder of the new theatre company No Dominion Theatre Co. with Kaitlin Overton and Aryana Sedarati. "Our aesthetic as a company also shines through in a very unique and interesting way [in A River], says Joel of No Dominion Theatre Co. 'One wouldn't normally associate our work with the beauty of nature, but the visuals, on top of the play itself, are melded beautifully together to form a cohesive piece of theatre that is both visually stunning and emotionally tangible."

A River runs Monday, March 30th at 6:30pm, Tuesday, March 31st, at 6:30pm, Wednesday, April 1st, at 6:30pm, and Thursday April 2nd at 6:30pm. All performances are at the Manhattan Repertory Theatre, located at 303 W 42nd Street at 8th Ave., 6th Floor, New York, NY (Directly across from PABT in Times Scare Building). Subway: A, C, E to 42nd St & 8th Ave. (PABT); 1, 2, 3, R, N, Q, Times Square Shuttle to Times Square.

To reserve tickets, send an email to mrtreserve@gmail.com; list your name, the date of the performance you wish to attend, and number of tickets. Payment accepted at the door. Tickets are $20.00. For further information, visit www.manhattanrep.com.

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