Shades of Gray Opens VESTIGES World Premiere at Secret Theatre Tonight

The Shades of Gray will present the world premiere of Rayka Kobiella's Vestiges, tonight, August 1 - August 4 at The Secret Theatre (4402 23rd St, Long Island City).

What if we're not hypochondriacs at all, and in the end our beloved Western civilization goes down, and we lose everything that is important to us: our money, our property and our savings accounts? The financial crash has come, and all of a sudden our society is gone. What if after the collapse of the West, the center of the world shifted to a place no one ever wanted to go?

The dark comedy Vestiges is set in a futuristic dystopia, where the world as we know it is a figment of the past and Siberia is the new 'Mecca'. People from all over the planet navigate towards this last place on earth where civilization still seems intact to start a new life. Too bad the educated Europeans and Americans, with all their supposed superior intelligence, yet inflexible and intolerant demeanor, aren't welcomed by the trendy and successful culture of theVestiges of Siberia. Needless to say clashes between the locals and the immigrants emerge, an amalgamation of cultural conflicts lost in translation.

Racism uncovered, jealousy, cynicism, nostalgia, future anxiety, intrigue, love and hate - Vestiges strips down human nature to its primal core. Will the new residents of Siberia be able to reconcile with the locals? Find out in Vestiges: the most biting satirical comedy of the year.

The Shades of Gray, founded by Miriam Ibrahim and Heidi Miller Smith in 2011, is a multi arts organization with the goal of exploring and honoring the "in between" of the common human experience. Using the tools of the expressive arts, The Shades of Gray aims at fostering understanding and acceptance of those who stand on the very edges of society. For more info, go to: www.theshadesofgray.org.

Vestiges runs tonight, August 1 - Sunday, August 4 at 8PM; Saturday, August 3 - Sunday, August 4 at 3PM. The Secret Theatre is located at 4402 23rd St, Long Island City,phone: 718 392 0722. Tickets are $15 - $18, and available at www.secrettheatre.com.

The creative team:

Rayka Kobiella (playwright and director) studied Literature, Theater and Ethnology at the University of Hamburg, Visual Communication at Hamburg School of Arts and Performance Studies at University of Michel de Montaigne III in Bordeaux, France. After her graduation in 2007, she assisted numerous stage directors. She has written and/ or directed several productions in Germany, such as Akzentfrei (toured Germany 2008-2009), Playroom and SuperHyperRocket at Deutsches Schauspielhaus Hamburg. Her first New York City production was Life is Overrated in 2012, where she collaborated with The Shades of Gray the first time. Rayka is always seeking for the most coherent way to tell a story and likes to utilize different artistic mediums. In addition to being a theater artist, she also directs music videos, exhibits art installations and writes travel stories and novels. Rayka resides in Hamburg, Germany.

Anna Myga Kasten (installation design) studied Art at Braunschweig School of Arts with Hartmut Neumann and Johannes Brus. 2002- 2006 she received the fellowship of the "Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes", 2010 the Goldrausch-Artists-Stipend in Berlin. Numerous exhibitions followed since 2005. In 2007 she became a stage designer by assisting Raimund Bauer and starting with her own work at LOT-Theater Braunschweig and at Off-Stages in Berlin and Hamburg. Beside her work as a set designer, she exhibits her installations and graphics. Anna Myga Kasten resides in Hamburg.

Dana Nguyen Anh (costume design) graduated at HAW Hamburg in Fashion Design in 2011. While studying she worked for several labels as MeadhamKirchhoff in London and Van Reimersdahl in Berlin. After graduating she worked for a German PR agency for the clients Tommy Hilfiger, Gucci and Michalsky. Since 2012 she works as a stylist for several studios and - fun fact - creates clothes for dogs for a German company. Besides working on her own label, she'll come up with her own designs for Vestiges in NYC.

James Wagner (translation) is a freelance translator, student of German literature and philosophy, and current Ph.D. candidate in the Department of German at NYU. He has spent several years living and teaching in Germany and Austria. He resides in New York.

Leonie Ettinger (assistant director) is a New York based multi-disciplinary theatrical artist. She has worked in productions in Germany, Israel and the UK including FFT Düsseldorf and The Tricycle Theatre, London. New York City collaborations include: The Civilians, Poetic Theater Productions, LEIMAY, Urban Stages, Residency Unlimited, The Brecht Forum, undergroundzero, Immigrant Artist and Scholars in New York (IASNY), The Private Theater with John Gould Rubin, and La MaMa ETC with Everett Quinton. She recently appeared in Hurt by Saviana Stanescu at Manhattan Repertory Theater and inHere We Are at the Living Theatre under the direction of Judith Malina. She is the Producing Artist of Raised Spirit Theater and a member of The Living Theatre ensemble. Currently, she is also the assistant director for SOUNDWAVES: The Passion of Noor Inayat Khan by Joe Martin, which is part of the official FringeNYC 2013 selection. B.A. Anthropology and Media, Goldsmiths College - University of London; M.F.A.-Equivalent, Stella Adler Studio of Acting. (www.leonieettinger.com)

The actors:

Zoe Hutmacher is a Berlin based actress. In 2004 she graduated from the three year conservatory at Frese Studio in Hamburg, Germany. She was a company member at Theaterhaus Jena for 4 years. She played the leading parts in Hamlet directed by Alice Buddeberg, Electra directed by Nina Mattenklotz, Medeia directed by Kieran Joel, The Tempest directed by Michael Heinzelmann as well as in various contemporary plays. Zoe worked at Thalia Theater Hamburg, Deutsches Schauspielhaus Hamburg, Deutsches Theater Berlin, Kampnagel Hamburg, Theaterhaus Jena, Sophiensäle, Staatstheater Braunschweig, Landesbühne Nord Wilhelmshaven, Komödie Winterhuder Fährhaus with directors such as Andreas Kriegenburg, Rafael Sanchez, Tomas Schweigen, Bettina Oberli and Julia Hölscher. Aside from Vestiges, she is currently performing at Theater Basel in Switzerland as the leading part in Anna Karenina. She made her NYC debut last year as Sana in Life is overrated written and directed by Rayka Kobiella. (www.zoehutmacher.de)

Miriam Ibrahim grew up in Germany and Ethiopia. She began performing in high school and later graduated in 2005 from Stage School Music, Dance and Drama Hamburg. Throughout various theaters in Germany she played roles in Crucible (Theater Bonn), Hair (Theater an der Rott) and Mutter Afrika (Deutsches Schauspielhaus Hamburg) and others. She moved to New York City in 2010 to study at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting where she graduated 2011 the 2 Year Evening Conservatory. In New York she played in Eastern Standard, Escape from Happiness. In addition to her work as an actress she also teaches (BINI e.V. Germany, Backstage Hamburg, Geminin Trust Ethiopia) and directs ("Playroom", "Fear", "Sterntaler", "Der Kluge Hase"). (www.miriamibrahim.com)

Rachel Adams is making her New York City debut. She is a recent graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy's integrated program. Rachel grew up in the Catskills where she performed at numerous local theaters and had the joy of playing a range of great characters. She would like to dedicate this performance to all of her family and friends upstate. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Andrew Vetterlein (Quasimodo) resides in Brooklyn, he started acting at the age of 10. He performed in straight plays and musical Theater Productions put on at his middle and high school and in addition was a member of a regional theater company. After finishing college Andrew stepped back into acting and hasn't stopped since; most recently taking improv classes at The Upright Citizens Brigade and is currently writing a web-series with his friend and fellow actor, Steven Bell. Andrew would like to thank his family and friends for their constant love and support, especially his niece and nephew, Charlotte and John-Michael for always reminding him to play and to be curious.

Marty Youngman is thrilled to be playing Tom in Vestiges. He is a member of the Roots & Branches Theater Ensemble and has recently moved back "home" to NYC with his wife Sharon. He loves the access and opportunities provided by theater in NYC.

Orlando Iriarte (Silvio) is thrilled to be a part of Vestiges. He was most recently seen in The Beautiful Soup Theater's NYC Revival production of Moose Murders as Joe Buffalo Dance, Yentl as Poppa, Reb Todrus, neat& tidy as Dr. Avery and Sam. He is a graduate of The University of Southern California School of Theater. Favorite Roles: Yentl (Poppa an Reb Todrus) neat & tidy (Dr Avery), Second Samuel(Frisky Madison), West Side Story (Officer Krupke), Annie (Daddy Warbucks). He can also be seen in several episodes of Extreme Forensicson ID Discovery Channel. He is the founder and Director of St. Jude Players. He is thrilled to be a part of Vestiges and would like to thank Rayka for giving me such a great character in Silvio.. Thanks to Dennis for his love and support. www.orlandoiriarte.com

The Secret Theatre is accessible from the 7, E, M & G to Courthouse/23st.** Close to N,W & R Trains at Queensboro Plaza. Walk north on 23rd to green gates on the left side of street. **From either direction exit 23rd and 44th drive. Take a right on 23rd north. Building with green "Caffeina" sign and a neon red and white sign that says "School of Ballet"

Art work by Life Is Extremly Strange www.liesoa.wix.com/lies