Columbia's MFA Acting Class of 2015 Opens FEN and LIGHT at East 13th Street Theatre Tonight

The MFA Acting Class of 2015 presents two stunning, thought-provoking plays for their third-year actors' thesis production: FEN by Caryl Churchill and LIGHT, based on the book by Torgny Lindren and adapted by Simon McBurney & Matthew Boughton.

The culmination of two years of rigorous training, FEN and LIGHT showcase the MFA Acting Class of 2015 in two dynamic ensemble productions: LIGHT, directed by Brian Kulick (Columbia School of the Arts faculty and Artistic Director of Classic Stage Company), and FEN, directed by Osheen Jones (Columbia School of the Arts MFA Directing Alumnus, Class of 2012). The productions will be performed in repertory at The East 13th Street Theatre, located at 136 East 13th Street, New York, NY 10003 from today, October 1- October 11, 2014.

A Columbia School of the Arts tradition, the third-year MFA Acting Thesis presents the graduating class under the direction of a faculty member or guest director, while showcasing the skills and abilities that they have honed as graduate candidates. Recent directors of the Actors' Thesis include Diane Paulus, Andrei Serban, Karin Coonrod, and Yuriy Kordonskiy. The Columbia University School of the Arts MFA Acting program challenges candidates with two years of in-depth text exploration and analysis, as well as meticulous voice and physical training in order to foster an intimate connection between who they are as individuals and who they are as artists.

The MFA Acting Class of 2015: Josette Canilao, Angelica Gregory, Kenard Jackson, Tauriq Jenkins, Julia Joyce-Barry, Eunyoung Bona Jung, Shiva Kalaiselvan, Crystal Lee, Keith Michael Pinault, Alex Joy Pucci, Dave Register, Seth Reich*, Amber Chardae Robinson, Peter Romano, Marcel Spears, and Angela Sperazza*

*These individuals appear courtesy of Actors' Equity Association

LIGHT

Directed by Brian Kulick

Based on the book by Torgny Lindgren

Adapted by Simon McBurney and Matthew Broughton

October 1, 3, 4 & 9 at 8 p.m.

October 11 at 2 p.m.

The plague comes to a remote medieval village where only seven inhabitants survive; dying was the easy part -- now the question, for the handful who remain, is how to live. LIGHT forces questions of morality and survival to the forefront as desperation causes a community's identity to teeter between civilization and barbarity.

FEN

by Caryl Churchill

Directed by Osheen Jones

October 2, 8, 10 & 11 at 8 p.m.

October 4 at 2 p.m.

Val wants more. Becky wants to be a hairdresser. Angela wants to escape. Shirley can't be doing with all the fuss everyone is making. In a world where roles are fixed and choices are few, Fen follows the interweaving lives of different generations of women, and questions our sense of entitlement as to what life should give us. Exploring the relationship between aspiration and expectation, Fen looks at our connection with the work, the people, and the landscapes that hold us together. A community of working women. Grafting, striving, finding their way.

Check out a special preview of FEN and LIGHT, featuring interviews with the cast and director Brian Kulick.

Performances run at the East 13th Street Theatre, 136 E. 13th St., New York, NY 10003. Tickets: $15/$5 Seniors/FREE with Student ID. For more information and tickets visit columbiastages.org.

Follow Columbia University MFA Actors Class of 2015 on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cuga2015; Twitter: @CUGA2015; Instagram: @CUGA 2015; YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/cuga2015; Website: www.columbiaactors.com.

About Columbia Stages: Columbia Stages is the producing arm of the Oscar Hammerstein II Center for Theatre Studies at Columbia University School of the Arts. Columbia Stages presents annually a season of graduate actor and director productions as well as a festival of new plays by emerging playwrights. The Theatre Program at Columbia University School of the Arts offers MFA degrees in: Acting, Directing, Playwriting, Dramaturgy, Stage Management, and Theatre Management & Producing. For more information about the Columbia University School of the Arts Theatre Program visit arts.columbia.edu/theatre.