Austin Pendleton to Appear in Presentation of DRESS OF FIRE

Austin Pendleton appears in a special presentation of Nina Kethevan's timely drama, DRESS OF FIRE.

Troy's Twilight of Empire as a cautionary tale for our own modern machinations.

Performing: June 29 & 30 at the Dorothy Strelsin Theater, 312 West 36th Street, NYC.

In Dress of Fire, The Trojan War is seen through the eyes of the women forced to endure man's need for power, Queen Hecuba, clairvoyant Cassandra, and she whose face launched a thousand ships, Helen of Troy.

As the conflict rages around the walls of the city (whose dilemma strangely resembles that of a modern superpower), each passionate character is as much preoccupied by her own personal drama as by the impending disaster that will sweep it all away. All their fates weave together as Helen of Troy weaves her loom.

"The twilight of this distant empire does not need a change of names for us to recognize the play is all about us," says Ms. Kethevan; she concluded by saying "I'm reminded of Native-American leader, Chief Si'ahl (for whom Seattle was named) and his powerful speech: "Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. All things are bound together. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves." Mr. Pendleton added "[this is a] passionately beautiful play ... so full of beautiful, magical, and unexpected things."

Negotiations are underway for a more substantial run.