Judith Malina's HERE WE ARE launches The Living Theatre's 66th Season

The Living Theatre, the oldest experimental theatre group still producing in the United States, launches its 66th year with the world premiere of Judith Malina's HERE WE ARE -- with previews to begin January 10, prior to its official press opening January 23 at The Living Theatre (21 Clinton Street). Judith Malina directs.

In HERE WE ARE, the legendary Judith Malina, at 86, has again redefined theatre's role in our lives with a production that changes and transcends the actual definition of what art can produce, and that art and life are far more connected than we have been willing to accept.

As we enter 2013 the world has not ended, but it remains in disarray. HERE WE ARE asks: Where are we? How did we get here? What have we tried in the past that has mislead us? What are the new ideas for the new world? How can we achieve them together and put aside violence, without the fear of retribution? How can the theatre help us do this?

HERE WE ARE takes a look at how decisions are made and how we govern ourselves. It seeks to find better solutions to our problems. The ensemble and the audience work together to manufacture and perform the potential creative possibilities for a post-revolutionary world of beauty and non-violence.

The play explores the inadequacy and inefficacy of the voting process, which is the core of our own poorly organized society -- and is largely responsible for why we do not live in the world we want.

The ensemble includes Leah Bachar, Sarah Braenne, Soraya Broukhim, Brad Burgess, Jay Dobkin, Eno Edet, Leonie Ettinger, John Paul Harkins, Thaddeus Harvey, Jen Emma Hertel, Dennis Yueh-Yeh Li, K'Sandra Nova, Mary Round, Tom Walker, and Fabian Zarta.

HERE WE ARE includes set design by Nicholas Benacerraf; lighting design by Simon Harding; and music composition by David Personne. Assistant Director is Nathan Shreeve.

Under Judith Malina's guidance and experience, The Living Theatre vigorously continues its ongoing research of innovative theatre forms involving audience participation and new methods of communication and social/political organization.

Ms. Malina was born in 1926 in Kiel, Germany, and is the daughter of Rabbi Max Malina, one of the founders of the German Jewish Congregation in New York City. In 1947, after studying acting and directing at the Dramatic Workshop at the New School with Erwin Piscator, she and Julian Beck co-founded The Living Theatre as an artistic challenge to the commercial theater, producing nearly 100 production including THE CONNECTION, THE BRIG, FRANKENSTEIN, ANTIGONE, PARADISE NOW, SEVEN MEDITATIONS ON POLITICAL SADO-MASOCHISM, I AND I, RESISTENZA and KORACH, and last year's HISTORY OF THE WORLD. Her literary output includes the plays PARADISE NOW, MYSTERIES AND SMALLER PIECES and THE LEGACY OF CAIN; collections of her diaries including "The Diaries of Judith Malina 1947-1957" and "The Enormous Despair"; and two books of poetry, "Poems of a Wandering Jewess" and "Love and Politics." As an actress, she has appeared in films including "Dog Day Afternoon," "China Girl," "The Addams Family," "Household Saints," "Enemies: A Love Story," "The Deli," and "Nothing Ever Happens"; and television series including "ER," "Miami Vice," "The Street" and "The Sopranos."

The Living Theatre was co-founded in 1947 by current artistic director Judith Malina and Julian Beck, who served as the company's executive director until his death in 1985. For more than six decades, the company has presented a unique body of work that has influenced theatre the world over, staging nearly a hundred productions, performed in nine languages in twenty-nine countries on five continents.

The company's more recent work includes Judith Malina and Hanon Reznikov's EUREKA!, Judith Malina's MAUDIE AND JANE, and a revival of 1963 Obie Award-winner THE BRIG which christened the company's home at 21 Clinton Street in 2007. This is the last production in the Clinton Street space before it closes at the end of February 2013, capping the longest run for the company in one venue in New York City.

The Living Theatre has toured extensively throughout the world, often in non-traditional venues, such as streets and prisons. It has greatly influenced other theatre companies, notably The Open Theatre (founded by Living Theatre member Joseph Chaikin) and Bread & Puppet Theatre. Its productions have won 3 Obie Awards: THE CONNECTION (1959); THE BRIG (1963) and FRANKENSTEIN (1968).

Associate Artistic Directors are Tom Walker and Brad Burgess. Artistic Associates are Eric Olson, Albert Lamont, Soraya Broukhim. HERE WE ARE is presented by executive producer Brad Burgess and associate producer Perf Productions.

HERE WE ARE runs January 10 -February 23 at The Living Theatre (21 Clinton Street, just below Houston Street at Avenue B). Performances are Wednesday-Saturday at 8pm). Wednesday tickets are "Pay What You Can"; Thursday, Friday and Saturday tickets are $20; $15 students/seniors. For reservations call 212-352-0255 or visit www.livingtheatre.org.

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