THE PHYSICISTS Get a Much-Needed Revival at Hollywood Fringe

When it premiered in 1962, Die Physiker or more commonly called The Physicists was heralded as a complex tragedy with a dark and twisted sense of humor that, more importantly, shed some light on global issues and the fragile balance between science, politics, ethics, responsibility and what is truly holding our world together.

Looking at the state of the world and the major shifts of the past few months, acclaimed director Ye'ela Rosenfeld believes now more than ever, it's time to revisit this play and its crucial themes. As such, she is reviving The Physicists for a limited run at the SacRed Fools Theater Main Stage as part of the Hollywood Fringe Festival in June.

The Physicists takes place in an insane asylum, where two patients strongly believe that they are the physicists Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein while a third patient believes that he is speaking to King Solomon. The play that begins as a murder investigation unfolds after "Einstein" murders the nurse who used to care for him. Written in 1961 by Friedrich Dürrenmatt, The Physicists is a thought-provoking, disturbing and hilarious scientific/political satire that tackles issues extremely relevant in today's shifting world landscape.

"Who do we put in the helm to run this world and what can the consequences be?" Rosenfeld said. "The ironic answer of the play is that the world is run by crazy people. There is not a better time to put this play up."

Rosenfeld is an accomplished stage and screen director who started with the film squad of the Israel Army before moving to Prague to work alongside notable directors like Roman Polanski. Since moving to L.A., she has directed several shorts, features, documentaries and music videos, as well as for the stage. The Physicists will be her Hollywood Fringe debut and with her she is bringing some stage veterans to play these challenging roles.

Embracing the spirit of Hollywood Fringe, Rosenfeld and her production team (which includes Fringe veteran Bonnie Joy Sludikoff) are putting their own unique twists on The Physicists, like incorporating live music from notable musicians, including Tom McLaughlin (A Quiet Storm) and Joe Berry (M83). The idea, producers said, is to present this timeless work in a way that frames the issues we face today and where we're headed as a society.

For tickets and more information, visit http://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/4624.

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