TAKING FLIGHT Set for Planet Connections Theatre Festivity

Sarah Jebian* presents her acclaimed cabaret act, Taking Flight: Songs of Hope, which combines her long-time love of music with her passion for social equality. Created and performed by Jebian, with piano accompaniment by David Libby, and directed by Robb Hillman and David McMullin, Taking Flight will be performed on Friday, June 26 at 7:30pm, Saturday, June 27th at 8pm, Wednesday, July 1 at 4:30pm, Monday, July 6th at 7pm and Tuesday, July 7th at 6pm in the Downstairs Theatre at The Paradise Factory, located at 64 East 4th Street as part of the 2015 Planet Connections Theatre Festivity.

Told against the backdrop of Sarah's personal story of being a wife, mother and stay-at-home mom, Taking Flight examines such issues as gay marriage, feminism, reproductive rights and the belief that each one of us is truly unique - a fact Sarah herself realized after the birth of her first child, an event which helped her come to terms with her own issues regarding her appearance after an almost lifetime struggle to stay thin. A truly inspirational journey, Taking Flight underscores the importance of taking time for one's own personal needs in this ever-faster moving world in which we live.

The music director of Taking Flight is David Libby and the producer is the Reverend Karen Rasmussen. Approximate running time of the show is one hour. The production is an AEA Showcase.

An award-winning singer & actress with a career that has spanned more than 25 years, Sarah Jebian's acting credits include: The Sound of Music (Paper Mill Playhouse), A Night on the Town (Don't Tell Mama), Avalon (FBH Productions - world premiere), Mother Wove the Morning (Shetler 54 - NY premiere, self-produced), and her own cabaret act Goin' Back (The Duplex). National tours: Anne of Green Gables, Salem Justice, Charlotte's Web and Sleeping Beauty. For nearly 10 years, Sarah was a resident artist at The Western Stage in Salinas, CA. Also a director, producer, choreographer and vocal coach, Sarah was a featured vocalist at the Unitarian Universalist General Assembly in 2013 and 2014 and is a frequent soloist at UU congregations all over the Washington, DC area. The lead female vocalist for Irish Mystique - a Broadway-style Irish Dance musical, Sarah works as a guest vocalist with several Washington, DC area bands and recently formed a folk/rock trio named Triptych. Her debut album, Love Songs & Lullabies was released in 2012. Sarah is a proud member of Actors' Equity Association and the Unitarian Universalist Musicians Network. She lives in Fairfax, VA with her husband and their two children. Her beloved community is the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax. www.takingflightcabaret.com.

David Libby (Musical Director) Credits include Play it Cool (Off Broadway), The Shadow Sparrow (O'Neill NMTC), That Other Woman's Child (NYMF and Chattanooga Rep), A Lasting Impression (East 3rd Productions), The Fantasticks (Gallery Players and Infinity Theatre), Little Mary (Not For Broadway Festival) My Way (Infinity) and Little Shop of Horrors (Infinity, Music Supervisor). Pianist/Keyboardist credits include Beauty and the Beast (Las Vegas) and Kiss Me Kate (First National Broadway Tour), as well as rehearsal/audition pianist work for the national tours of (among others) Hairspray, Spring Awakening, Oliver!, The Drowsy Chaperone, and Rent. He is currently arranging songs from the MGM catalog for a new musical about Judy Garland's early life entitled Chasing Rainbows, in collaboration with Sony Music Publishing, book by Marc Acito. The musical will receive its world premiere at Flat Rock Playhouse in North Carolina in November, 2015.

Robb Hillman & David McMullin (Directors) are ex-professional actors who have traded in their greasepaint and tap shoes to become a nurse and a teacher, respectively. They met 21 years ago while performing in a production of The Boyfriend. The highlight of their theater careers was when they were both cast in Baz Luhrmann's production of Puccini's La Boheme on Broadway. In 2012, David and Robb were thrilled to legally become husband and husband, at last! David is currently writing and illustrating a children's book, while Robb has launched a new blog about choosing to live an intentionally awesome life. Come follow his adventures at tendegreeswarmer.com.

At the conclusion of each performance of Taking Flight, donations will be collected for Standing on the Side of Love. Born out of the slogan and song by Rev. Jason Shelton, the Standing on the Side of Love campaign was launched after the 2008 shooting at Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville, which was targeted because they are welcoming to LGBTQ people and have a liberal stance on many issues. The Knoxville community responded with an outpouring of love that inspired the leadership at the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) to launch the campaign in 2009, with the goal of harnessing love's power to challenge exclusion, oppression, and violence based on sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, race, religion, or any other identity. www.standingonthesideoflove.org.

Planet Connections Theatre Festivity is New York's premiere socially-conscious theatre, music and film festival. The entire festival is aligned to help artist shine a light on the issues facing our society and support the organizations working to make a difference. The 2015 Theatre Festivity will run from June 15-July 12 at the Paradise Factory (located at 64 East 4th Street between the Bowery and 2nd Avenue), and will also play host to special events at various locations in New York City's East Village. For more information on Planet Connections, visit: www.planetconnections.org.

All tickets are $18.00. Tickets can be purchased by calling OvationTix at 866-811-4111, or at https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/946351. Tickets for all 2015 Planet Connections Festivity shows are available at https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/cal/27385.

Please note: the theatre is wheelchair accessible. The closest subway stops are the L train at 3rd Avenue or the 6 Train at Astor Place. The closest bus lines are the M103 at 4th Street or the M15 at 6th Street.

* - Appearing through the courtesy of Actors' Equity Association