DOGS OF RWANDA by Sean Christopher Lewis Continues Rolling Premiere in Atlanta

By: Sep. 13, 2017
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National New Play Network, the country's alliance of nonprofit theaters that champions the development, production, and continued life of new plays, celebrates the opening of the Rolling World Premiere (RWP) of Dogs of Rwanda by Sean Christopher Lewis at Out of Hand Theater (September 15-November 18, Atlanta, GA).

During the Roll, the play also received productions at NNPN Core Members 16th Street Theater (Berwyn, IL, October 21-November 19, 2016), Phoenix Theatre (Indianapolis, IN, January 6-15, 2017), and InterAct Theatre Company (Philadelphia, PA, June 3-18, 2017).

Out of Hand Theater's production of Dogs of Rwanda will take the play out of the traditional theater setting with performances for the public in 15 private homes, an artist studio, and a church across the Atlanta region.

NNPN provides production support to the playwright and the partnering theaters, including assistance with the creation and the contracting of the premiere agreement, collaborative interactions between the theaters, and funds for the playwright's residence in each city to further develop the play.

ABOUT DOGS OF RWANDA
1994. At 16 years of age, David found himself in Uganda as a church missionary. When he follows the girl of his dreams into the woods to help a Rwandan boy they've stumbled upon he enters a world from which he will never fully be able to escape. On the 20th anniversary of the genocide he witnessed firsthand, a book David wrote regarding his experiences that Spring arrives with a note from the Rwandan boy he once tried to save. "You didn't tell them everything," it says. "You didn't tell them everything." A dinner party story for the ages.

ABOUT SEAN Christopher Lewis
Sean Christopher Lewis is the Artistic Director of Riverside Theatre in Iowa City and the NEFA Award winning Working Group Theatre in New York. His plays include Red Hills (produced by Quantum Theatre and En Grade Arts), Dogs of Rwanda (NNPN Rolling World Premiere at 16th Street Theatre, Phoenix Theatre, Interact Theatre and Out of Hand Theatre), Killadelphia (Baltimore Center Stage, American Theatre Company, 16th Street Theatre, Interact Theatre, Woolly Mammoth Theatre, Riverside Theatre, Touchstone Theatre, Available Light Theatre, winner of the NNPN Smith Prize), Just Kids (Available Light Theatre, Pontine Theatre, Sandglass Theatre), Manning Up (NNPN Rolling World Premiere at Riverside Theatre, Salt Lake Acting Company, Actor's Summit), The Aperture (Cleveland Public Theatre), Militant Language (Know Theatre, Halcyon Theatre) and I Will Make You Orphans (Riverside Theatre, Hyde Park Theatre, Uno Festival of Solo Performance). His work has won the NNPN Emerging Playwright Residency, the Barrymore Award, the William Inge Fellowship, the NEA Voices in Community Award, and the NNPN Annual Commission. seanchristopherlewis.com

ABOUT 16TH STREET THEATER
Created to be a theater for people NOT going to the theater, 16th Street was founded in 2007 to serve and give voice to ALL in Berwyn's community: not just for some in our community, but for all. Dedicated to artistic excellence, professionalism (paying artists a decent wage) diversity and affordability, 16th Street exists to encourage debate, discussion and compassion amongst our community through the medium of intimate and diverse theater with the playwright as its central focus. 16th Street is a place where audiences are invited to experience not only their own stories, but to experience their neighbors' stories and stories of "the other." 16thstreettheater.org

ABOUT Phoenix Theatre
The Phoenix Theatre is Indiana's only professional contemporary theatre, and has presented productions to challenge and entertain the Indianapolis community for over 33 years. The Phoenix strives to expand the community's exposure to diverse topics and start conversations that lead to positive change; produce vital, engaging plays that deepen and expand our views of a shared humanity; and stimulate conversation and promote diversity via intimate, engaged, and wide-ranging theater. Additionally, the Phoenix aims to move the political bent of the community from the right to the center via theater, and create intimate theatre so powerful and engaging it sparks and leads Indiana's cultural conversation. This year, the Phoenix announced its Capital Campaign, "Phoenix Rising," to raise 8.5 million dollars to build a new home and state-of-the-art arts center in downtown Indianapolis. The new building will be home not only to the Phoenix, but to other local guest theatre companies. phoenixtheatre.org

ABOUT INTERACT THEATRE COMPANY
Founded in 1988, InterAct is dedicated to presenting new and contemporary plays that explore the political, social and cultural issues of our time. The company produces four plays annually, and is actively involved in the development of new plays, workshops, and playwright support, as well as cultivating prize-winning writers, championing world premiere work, and creating community partnerships. interacttheatre.org

ABOUT OUT OF HAND THEATER
Out of Hand Theater makes shows, games and public art, for venues including parks, homes, businesses, and theaters. Through annual free public arts events and original works, we embrace new audiences, celebrate community, and create moments of mass intimacy. We collaborate with scientists, artists, businesses, schools and civic organizations to create events reflecting their work, we train others to unlock their creativity and to innovate, and we bring free public art to thousands of people every year. outofhandtheater.com

ABOUT NNPN
National New Play Network (NNPN) is the country's alliance of non-profit professional theaters dedicated to the development, production, and continued life of new plays. Since its founding in 1998, NNPN has supported more than 250 productions nationwide through its innovative National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere program, which provides playwright and production support for new works at its Member Theaters. Additional programs - its annual National Conference, National Showcase of New Plays, and MFA Playwrights Workshop; the NNPN Annual and Smith Prize commissions; its residencies for playwrights, producers and directors; and the organization's member accessed Collaboration, Festival, and Travel banks and online information sessions - have helped cement the Network's position as a vital force in the new play landscape. NNPN also strives to pioneer, implement, and disseminate ideas and programs that revolutionize the way theaters collaborate to support new plays and playwrights. Its most recent project, the New Play Exchange, is changing the way playwrights share their work and others discover it by providing immediate access to information on more than 14,500 new plays by living writers. NNPN's 30 Core and 80 Associate Members - along with the more than 250 affiliated artists who are its alumni, the thousands of artists and artisans employed annually by its member theaters, and the hundreds of thousands of audience members who see its supported works each year - are creating the new American theater. nnpn.org | newplayexchange.org

Pictured: Sean Christopher Lewis at 16th Street Theater in Berwyn, IL (photo Anthony Aicardi)



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