MICA's Rivals of the West Theatre Company to Present JAILBAIT and BLACKBIRD

Not every love story is a fairytale. In fact, love and sexual intimacy can be forbidden, uncomfortable and even dangerous. The Maryland Institute College of Art's (MICA) Rivals of the West Theatre Company will use the power of artistic expression to explore those themes through a thought-provoking evening of theater and discussion Thursdays through Sundays, March 31 through April 10, 2016. Performances will take place at MICA's BBOX performance space, located inside The Gateway Building at 1601 W. Mount Royal Ave. Tickets are $10 for students with ID and MICA community and $15 for the general public.

The critically acclaimed plays JAILBAIT by Deirdre O'Connor and BLACKBIRD by David Harrower each shine a light on the morally complicated world of sexual relationships between adults and children. In JAILBAIT, O'Connor explores what happens when a high-school girl attempts to use intimacy with an older man as her key to entering adulthood. In BLACKBIRD, Harrower delves into the relationship between a young woman and the man who was arrested for sexual assault against her.

MICA's presentation of these two plays provides a forum for discussing tough questions about love, sex, intimacy and choice.

"JAILBAIT and BLACKBIRD, two fearless and challenging plays, raise very difficult questions about the same gut-wrenching situation, but arrive by very different routes at equally elusive conclusions," said Christopher Shipley, MICA humanistic studies department faculty member and theater concentration coordinator. "When the lights finally go down on our double bill, audience members will be faced with what to do with their sharply opposing reactions to each play, and there will be no easy answers for them, either."

In addition to exploring important themes surrounding emotional intimacy and sexuality, the productions of JAILBAIT and BLACKBIRD will highlight the broad range of artistic skills that MICA students possess. MICA students will be both in front of and behind the camera, acting as well directing and designing the set. Students will also play a role in other planning aspects of the production such as costume design and the creation of publicity materials. "MICA's student body provides every essential ingredient (and then some) to produce amazing theater," Shipley said.

Founded in 1826, Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) is the oldest continuously degree-granting college of art and design in the nation. The College enrolls nearly 3,300 undergraduate, graduate and open studies students from 48 states and the District of Columbia and 52 countries in fine arts, design, electronic media, art education, liberal arts, and professional studies degree and non-credit programs. With art and design programs ranked in the top 10 by U.S. News & World Report, MICA is pioneering interdisciplinary approaches to innovation, research, and community and social engagement. Alumni and programming reach around the globe, even as MICA remains a cultural cornerstone in the Baltimore/Washington region, hosting hundreds of exhibitions and events annually by students, faculty and other established artists.

For updates, visit rivalsofthewest.org.

NOTE: These productions may not be appropriate for all audiences as they do include sexually explicit dialogue.