La MaMa is association with L'Atelier Théâtre Productions presents THE MAIDS

Every night the maids stage a fantasized revolution against their mistress Madame. Every night they fail miserably. But last night they have taken a step into reality. They have plotted against Monsieur and have gotten him arrested by the police. Family and class wars unfold.

L'Atelier Théâtre's new production of The Maids by Jean Genet, performed in the original French with English supertitles, captures the grim substance of the sisters' relationship while dissecting the brutal social powers at play. The ensemble's rich world of physical symbolism alongside bursts of sound and song create a visceral experience catapulting us into the here and now of Genet's classic text reimagined for the 21st century.

"This project took shape around a collective of New York based European artists who are interested in building bridges between European and American theatre," says actor/producer Laura Townsend. "As a group we have extensive experience in physical and Contemporary Theatre both in Europe and in the US. Working on the text in the original French allows us to recapture the word play that make up the bones of Genet's text and the nuances that are often lost in translation."

Running time is 70 minutes.

The Maids features Helene Godec, Laura Lassy Townsend*, and Cloe Xhauflaire. The Maids is written by Jean Genet and directed by Oliver Henzler with original musical composition by Leah Lawrence, stage management by AnDrew Carr, set design by Lloyd Huber, and lighting design by Oona Curley.

*appears courtesy of Actor's Equity Association.

Performance Schedule:
Thursday March 2 at 7:30pm *preview
Friday March 3 at 7:30pm *preview
Saturday March 4 at 7:30pm *opening
Sunday March 5 at 2pm *matinee
Thursday March 9 at 7:30pm
Friday March 10 at 7:30pm
Saturday March 11 at 7:30pm
Sunday March 12 at 2pm *matinee
Thursday March 16 at 7:30pm
Friday March 17 at 7:30pm
Saturday March 18 at 7:30pm
Sunday March 19 at 2pm

The Maids is performed at La MaMa's First Floor Theatre which is located by 74A East 4th Street between 2nd Ave and Bowery.

More info at: lamama.org/maids/

Tickets: $25 adults, $20 for students/seniors/groups. Tickets may be purchased online at www.lamama.org or by phone at 212-352-3101

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:
Oliver Henzler (Director)
Henzler is a New York based theater maker and performer. His passion for directing and devising Theater Productions derives from his in-depth experience as a performer over the past fifteen years. On stage, Oliver has worked in numerous productions including Shakespeare's Pericles (ART), Berlioz' Benvenuto Cellini (Metropolitan Opera, NY), Peter Shaffer's Amadeus, Adam Rapp's Nocturne, Strindberg's The Pelican, Fabio Rubiano's Mosca, Büchner's Woyzeck, and Rashomon based on Akutagawa's short stories. Oliver also frequently works on TV and Film. Recent appearances include roles on Blacklist (NBC) and Person of Interest (CBS), and feature films The Happy House and the soon-to-be released Too Cold To Swim and A Different Sun. Oliver is a graduate of Wesleyan University (BA with honors) and Columbia University (MFA), he is an authorized Synapsing® teacher and a guild certified Feldenkrais® practitioner.

Laura Lassy Townsend (Actor & Producer)
Townsend is a New York based actor originally from Paris, France. Her credits include the National Opera of Paris, the Venice Film Festival, Classic Stage Company, The Rattlestick Theatre, Mabou Mines and Target Margin Theater. Laura has taught as a Teaching Artist at Classic Stage Company, the French Institute Alliance Française and is the co-founder of L'Atelier Théâtre NY, where she teaches drama in French. She is a member of Actors' Equity. She holds an MSc in Business from HEC, Paris and an MFA in Acting from Columbia University.

About L'Atelier Théâtre Productions

L'Atelier Theatre Productions is the professional production branch of L'Atelier Theatre NY. We support emerging artists presenting bold theater projects in the French language in New York.

L'Atelier Theatre NY has become renowned for providing drama classes in French to the French and francophile community in New York. Founded by Roxane Revon and Laura Lassy Townsend, L'Atelier's classes have drawn a joyous community of theater lovers and players to its classes. Every year, hundreds of French theater lovers have come to see our student shows at the 4th Street Theater, including most recently Feydeau's "Le Dindon" & "La dame de chez Maxim'", and Molière's "Le Malade Imaginaire" & "Les Précieuses Ridicules".

With "Les Bonnes" by Jean Genet, we are launching the professional production branch of L'Atelier Theatre NY. By developing such a project, we hope that we'll not only present a bold and inspiring play to our audiences but that we will forge a movement for our collective that will allow us to build future projects that continue the dialogue between European and American Theater. We intend to build a New York-based community of artists, hailing from European horizons, who are ready to blend the two theater heritages here in New York.

About La MaMa

La MaMa is dedicated to the artist and all aspects of the theatre. The organization has a worldwide reputation for producing daring performance works that defy form and transcend barriers of ethnic and cultural identity. Founded in 1961 by award-winning theatre pioneer Ellen Stewart, La MaMa has presented more than 5,000 productions by 150,000 artists from more than 70 nations. A recipient of more than 30 Obie Awards and dozens of Drama Desk, Bessie, and Villager Awards, La MaMa has helped launch the careers of countless artists, many of whom have made important contributions to American and international arts milieus.

La MaMa's 55th season celebrates the creative and collective histories of La MaMa's local and global communities. Since its beginning, La MaMa has forged creative partnerships with artists based in different parts of the U.S., Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. In recent years, these long-term relationships have taken on new life through distance collaborations over the Internet. The 55th season embraces new pathways forged in performance and technology to connect the myriad experiences, politics, conflicts, aesthetics, intimacies and dreams of people and communities participating in an increasingly globalized world.