TIBET DOES NOT EXIST Runs At Spoon Theatre 4/8 - 4/26

Nicu's Spoon is pleased to announce their production of Don Thompson’s Tibet Does Not Exist, directed by Pamela Butler. Tibet Does Not Exist will play a three-week limited engagement at the Spoon Theater (38 West 38th Street, 5th Fl.) Performances begin Wednesday, April 8th and continuing through Sunday, April 26th. Opening Night is Saturday, April 11th (8 p.m.).

Tibet Does Not Exist stars Oliver Conant*, Katie Labahn, Susannah McLeod, Sammy Mena, Scott David Nogi*, Tim Romero*, Sara Thigpen*, and Peter Quinones. The show is directed by Pamela Butler.

A exiled Tibetan Lama becomes an uncomfortable house guest for a Yale economics professor, who, along with his cynical colleagues, do not quite know what to think of the often irreverent monk. As the Lama turns his attention to the economist, the professor confesses some painful truths regarding mis-understood ideas and unresolved relationships. En route the Lama takes us on a sometimes humorous, sometimes poignant journey through what the tragedy of Tibet means in a modern context. With the turmoil in Tibet making recent headlines, Tibet Does Not Exist takes on special meaning.

The production features scenic design by John Trevellini, costume design by S. Barton-Farcas, and lighting design by Steven Wolf. S. Barton-Farcas is the sound engineer and Alvero Sena is the stage manager.

Tibet Does Not Exist plays the following regular schedule through Sunday, April 26th:

Wednesdays at 8 p.m.
Thursdays at 8 p.m.
Fridays at 8 p.m.
Saturdays at 8 p.m.
Sundays at 8 p.m.

Running time is 2 hours with an intermission.

Tickets are $18 and are now available online at www.spoontheater.org or by calling 866-811-4111. Tickets may also be purchased in-person at the Spoon Theater Box Office, 1 hour prior to showtime.

Pamela Butler (director) has been involved with indie theatre in New York since the 1990’s. She has directed and produced works for the New York International Fringe Festival, Gallery Players in Brooklyn, Henry Street Settlement and Nicu’s Spoon (directing Murder of Crows and Skin Tight). She is also acting as dramaturg, director and working on their reading series with Nicu’s Spoon’s literary director.

Don Thompson (playwright) is a playwright, filmmaker and essayist. His plays include L.A. Book Of The Dead, Tibet Does Not Exist and Democracy: A Work In Progress. His film Clouds won awards and/or special recognition at numerous film festivals and was released theatrically (limited) by IN Pictures. Don continues to develop and produce feature films and documentaries through his production company nextPix (www.nextpix.com). Tibet In Song -- a documentary co-produced by Thompson about the music and culture of Tibet -- premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Special Jury Prize for World Cinema Documentary. Thompson also edited and contributed to an anthology of essays and interviews about film and culture titled Your Life Is A Movie (Del Sol Press, 2006) and is a frequent contributor to film and political webzines.

Nicu's Spoon launched into the New York Indie Theatre scene in 2001 with their first play, Displaced, a new play written by five women, based on the stories, testimonies, songs, and poetry of women and children refugees, which was submitted for the 2001 Pulitzer Prize. Their 2002 multi-racial production of To Kill a Mockingbird was hailed by Back Stage as “nothing short of inspiring!” In Perpetuity Throughout the Universe, a story of a woman who is a ghostwriter for hate books completed the 2002 season, and was a Village Voice “Voice Choice”. In 2002 special performances with American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation were added to the productions. In 2003, Nicu’s Spoon presented two pieces focusing on individuality: George Orwell’s 1984 and A Murder of Crows by OBIE Award winner Mac Wellman. Inclusion of handicapped actors was an important element in both shows. 2004 brought the production of SubUrbia by Eric Bogosian and was awarded the OOBR award for best production and an additional nomination for the Alliance of NY Arts Organizations’ Advancing Cultural Development Award. In 2005 United Stages profiled them in their “Seeing Stars” series and nytheatre.com picked them as an Editors Choice for The Swan, as well as Stumps, which introduced a new kind of performance for Deaf and hearing audiences, called “co-playing.” 2006 produced a hit: the US premiere of Skin Tight, named the High5 pick of the week, as well as Buried Child, which challenged the stereotype that a Deaf actor could not speak on stage. In 2006, they were recognized by the Thom Fluellen Award by the NYU Community Fund for excellence in service to the diverse New York community. Time Warner Corporation was a 2007 season sponsor in their Diverse Voices program.

During the 2007 season, while producing Tales of the Last Formicans in a theater not their own, they searched for a home; not only to use as a company but also to rent to other artists at reasonable prices. For the second Nicu’s Spoon production in 2007 they debuted Richard lll (the lead actor was differently abled from polio) in their very own theater - a home, located at 38 West 38th Street, 5th Floor! Following that with the U.S. premiere of Kosher Harry (co-played with hearing and non hearing/speaking artists) to round out the 7th season. Celebrating the First Anniversary in the new space with Elizabeth Rex started the 8th season in NYC. The show garnered 2 Innovative Theatre Awards and an Off-Broadway run at Center Stage. In between building and developing a space that POPS with creativity for other artists and companies to come enjoy and work. The 2008 season addressed women and identity issues. Also in 2008, Snapple awarded the company the ‘Best People to work with in NY City’ award. The 2009 season focuses on spirituality and what is done in the name of religion. Please come and support the theater in midtown where Nicu’s Spoon is changing the world one play at a time.