FRIGID New York Festival presents MENDACITY 2/24-3/5

After moving from readings in Los Angeles to a workshop in New York, the next step in the evolution of this multi-media solo show is the world premier production in the FRIGID New York Festival 2011. Written and directed by Lauren Rayner, MENDACITY takes you deep inside the mind of a splintering personality, peppered with dark humor and wrought with self-loathing and denial over sexual assault. Join us in a rebellious journey of fragmented transcendence and the offering of hope.

"MENDACITY is a kaleidoscope of vibrant voices with reflections constantly revolving and morphing around the issue sexual assault. For someone to take something so personal and heartbreaking and transform it into something so transcendent and gut-wrenchingly honest is magnificent, awe-inspiring and inspirational." -Ashley Steed (Writer, LA Stage Times)

The premier production of MENDACITY brings together a team of 15 creative collaborators and will integrate dynamic multi-media techniques, including mind-blowing video projections by Jay Kilachand, an original soundscape designed by Jake Hull (of the band Momentary Prophets) with precise choreography by Shiloh Goodin and a vibrant lighting design by Tony Lepore. The piece will be performed by Ali Kresch.

According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), about 80% of rape cases in the United States are women aged 24 and under, and that statistic becomes even more staggering when we realize that most sexual assaults of young women go unreported out of fear, disgust, shame, and denial. This is strictly a not-for-profit production. Box office proceeds will directly benefit RAINN.

LAUREN RAYNER (Producer/Director/Writer)
Lauren Rayner is a New York and Los Angeles based producer, director, and playwright. Recent producing/directing credits include, OFF-OFF-BROADWAY: Jesse Zaritt's BINDING (as Producing Associate, prod. Theatre C / terraNOVA Collective; winner of 3 NY Innovative Theatre Awards), One Arm and A Leg (dir. Calla Videt; HERE Arts Center & Theater for the New City); Sleeping with Strangers (prod. Nylon Fusion Collective); The Mask of Medusa (in Central Park; ‘Thumbs Up Pick' on TheaterOnline); No Nursery Rhymes Please, Don't Eat the Yellow Picasso, and What is Gained : a muse on consequence (prod. Roots and Wings Theatrical); The Last Good Moment of Lily Baker (Bridge Theatre; dir. Brooke Speelman); LOS ANGELES: Beirut, King Lear (an all female production), One for the Road/A Kind of Alaska/Ashes to Ashes/New World Order, Catholic School Girls, Mitzi's Abortion; ORIGINAL PLAYS: Mendacity (prod. Roots and Wings Theatrical, NYC; Women's Theatre Organization, LA), Level 14, Colorless Green Ideas Sleep Furiously (reading at Lark Play Development Center), and Disembodied Voices all mounted in LA. Currently, she is a Producing Associate and General Manager of Theatre C, a new company led by Carlos Armesto and an Associate Producer with VoiceChair Productions/Erich Jungwirth. She has worked at the Cherry Lane Theatre, The Play Company, the Women's Expressive Theatre, the Lark Play Development Center, the Ontological-Hysteric Theater, and at Center Theatre Group in the Executive Offices under Artistic Director, Michael Ritchie. She is a graduate of the University of Southern California (BA, Theatre and Education). Lauren is proud to be a fiscally sponsored artist of Fractured Atlas. www.laurenrayner.com

ALI KRESCH (Solo Performer)
Ali is thrilled to be working on this lively and important piece. Favorite NYC shows: Hearting Linds (Bonnie; Manhattan Theatre Club, dir. Alex Bisker); State of the Union (Norah/Grace; JCity Theater, dir. Sandy Cockrell); The Mask of Medusa (Medusa; Roots & Wings Theatrical, dir. Lauren Rayner), Love/Money: a Recession Rock Musical (Sarah; NYC Fringe 2009, dir. Aaron Gensler), The Girls Play (Laurie; EndTimes Productions Award for Best Actress, dir. Sydney Galla). Favorite Regional Roles: Noises Off (Brooke), Rumors (Cassie), Triumph of Love (Corine), How to Succeed (Smitty), Playing for Time (Marianne), As You Like It (Phebe). BFA Acting / BA English from the University of Michigan. www.alikresch.com

Running Time = 40 minutes with 15 minute talk-back

TEASER TRAILER @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5Qxs1bgUSQ