Banana Boat Productions and New Perspectives Theatre Company (NPTC) will present WOMEN IN TRANSITION, two plays by the prolific Zeno Obi Constance, Trinidadian author of Banana Boat and NPTC's acclaimed production of The Ritual. This new co-production runs October 26 to November 6, 2011 at New Perspectives Studio, 458 West 37th Street, with performances Wednesday through Saturday at 8:00pm and Sundays at 3:00pm.
PATRICIA-A LOVE STORY takes place in the mind of a newly-widowed woman who finds herself reviewing her life during her husband's wake. As she relives the experience of "having it all", we learn that she was never quite able to escape her yearning for greater self-fulfillment. The now widespread theme of domestic violence finds a passionate outlet in CINDERELLA SYNDROME, a re?telling of the classic fairy tale. Abused housewife Virginia Dubois, like her fictional counterpart, finds solace in her own fantasies. Confined to an asylum, she manages to survive as Cinderella..."with an edge". Banana Boat Artistic Director Merlina Rich directs Cinderella Syndrome and Damion Gonzalez directs Patricia.
Meganne George is the Set Designer,
Joyce Liao is Lighting Designer, and Athena Roque designs the Costumes. Mario Monreal is Technical Consultant for Projections and Sound Design. The cast for both plays features Nixon Cesar, Lindon Ferryman, Shykia Fields, Damion Gonzalez, Shernell Julien, Gabriella Lake, Shereen Macklin, Tessa Martin, Davin McLeod, Shirley Parkinson-Wright, Tanya Thompson and Adeola Wilson.
MERLINA RICH is the Founder and Artistic Director of Banana Boat Productions. As a producer, director, writer, and actor, she has been involved in various productions over the past fifteen years, all having to do with Caribbean life and its manifestation in the larger world. Among the plays Merlina has produced are Nine to Five Government Style, The New Hardware Store, Have Mouth Will Travel, All I've Got, Pretty Papers and Mamma Decemba. In partnership with the Caribbean-
American Repertory Theater, she co-produced Jestina's Calypso and My Children! My Africa!, which was nominated for an Audelco Award in 2004. Merlina is Assistant Director of The Ritual, originally co-produced with New Perspectives Theatre Company. She is very active in outreach to and collaboration with a range of Caribbean cultural and social organizations to foster greater connections within the community and provide needed services and support to Caribbean peoples. Through her many years as a flight attendant with American Airlines, Merlina has worked with the United Nations and other groups to provide health care to needy children from across the Caribbean, and bring supplies and financial support to schools in Jamaica.
DAMION GONZALEZ started acting in Trinidad at the age of 9. At the age of 17 he met and became a mentee of teacher/playwright Zeno Constance and became woven into the fabric of the theater powerhouse that was the Fyzabad Composite School, where Zeno taught. This would begin a 10-year partnership (ending in 1999) which would see the school's various cast's and production's near domination of the Secondary Schools Drama Festival. With Damion as Director the school would be awarded five Best Production awards, (Dragonslayer's Dream, 1990; Reflection of A Nightmare, 1995; Dorothy's Challenge, 1997; The Cinderella Syndrome, 1998; Dueling Voices, 1999) five Best Director awards, numerous individual Acting awards and finally Best Production and Best Director awards (again for Dueling Voices) at the Caribbean Schools Drama Festival in Jamaica in 2000.
BANANA BOAT PRODUCTIONS was established in 1998 with the aim of creating theatrical experiences of specific interest to the English-speaking Caribbean community of the greater New York metropolitan area. Our operating premise is this: the Caribbean culture is a multicolored and rich palette of expressions, experiences, and lifestyles that is in need of more exposure in the realm of truly meaningful theater. Banana Boat Productions seeks out plays that focus very specifically on dramatic themes that reflect the historical and cultural development of Caribbean life as well as the present reality of Caribbean culture as it has settled into other global settings. We attempt to bring thought-provoking and realistic theatrical experiences to people who can identify, reflect upon, and appreciate the relevance to their own lives. In this context, our productions can be seen as experiential instruments to promote a greater elaboration, a deeper understanding, and more respectful view of oneself-in this case, a Caribbean self.
NEW PERSPECTIVES THEATRE COMPANY is an award-winning, multi-racial company performing in the heart of the Broadway Theatre District and in communities throughout the five boroughs of New York City. The Company's mission is to develop and produce new plays and playwrights, especially women and people of color, to present classic plays in a style that addresses contemporary issues, and to extend the benefits of theatre to young people and communities in need. Our aim is not to exclude, but to cast a wider net. Now in its 20th season, notable NPTC productions have included Richard III, starring
Austin Pendleton; Exhibit #9 by
Tracy Wilson (1999Audelco Award); Jihad by Ann Chamberlain (1996 OOBR Award for Best Production); The Taming of the Shrew (2002 OOBR Award for Best Production), Admissions by Tony Velella (10 Best Plays of 1995, Backstage); the U.S. premiere of Visit by world-renowned Argentinean playwright Ricardo Monti; and the New York Premieres of
Vaclav Havel's The Increased Difficulty of Concentration, OBIE-Winner
Stephanie Berry's The Shaneequa Chronicles (produced with Blackberry Productions), and Lemon Meringue Façade by
Ted Lange.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
WHEN: October 26 to November 6, 2011
Wednesday - Saturday, 8:00 pm; Sundays at 3:00pm
Press Performances: October 27th to November 6th
WHERE: New Perspectives Studio
458 West 37th Street, Ground Floor (@ 10th Avenue)
TICKETS: $20/$15 for students and seniors; TDF accepted
Call 212-630-9945 or email
bananabpro@gmail.com for reservations
Advance Sale:
http://www.newperspectivestheatre.org/productions/WIT.htm
