Workshop Theater Premieres Lou-Lou Igbokwe's IYOM, Now thru 10/12

WORKSHOP THEATER COMPANY has announced the world premiere production of Lou-Lou Igbokwe's IYOM, directed by Jessica Creane. IYOM will play a four-week limited engagement at WorkShop Theater Company's Main Stage (312 West 36th Street, 4th Floor). Performances begin tonight, September 19 and continue Saturday, October 12. Opening Night is Saturday, September 21 (8 p.m.). Press are invited to all performances.

Zaki, the only child of ambitious Nigerian immigrants, is constantly learning things the hard way. When her mysterious grandmother moves in, things take a turn for the magical. But even her newfound power doesn't help Zaki deal with the reality of trauma, tradition, and loss.

The production stars Uzoma Emukah as Essien, Julian A. Wicks as Masquerade, Jude Evans as Masquerade, Sadah Ieisha as Masquerade, Laura E. Johnston* as Gram, Jacquelyn Revere as Ruth, Monique A. Robinson as Zaki, Donnell Smith as Rohan and Augustus Wilson as Simon. *Performing courtesy of Actors' Equity Association. AEA approved showcase.

The production features scenic design by Colin McGurk, costume design by Orli Nativ, and lighting design by Phil Kong. Nicholas Simone is the sound designer and Katie Selyanina is the stage manager.

IYOM plays the following regular schedule through Saturday, October 12: Thursdays at 7 p.m.; Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 8 p.m.; and Sundays at 3 p.m. There is an additional performance on Monday, October 7 at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $15-$18 ($9 student with student ID) and are now available online at WORKSHOPTHEATER.ORG or by calling 866-811-4111, or in person at the theater ½ hour prior to performance. Running Time: 105 minutes.

For more information, visit workshoptheater.org.

LOU-LOU IGBOKWE (Playwright) is the daughter of Nigerian immigrants, a first-generation American, and a black feminist Lou-Lou Igbokwe explores issues of cultural identity, sexual politics, and self-definition. After discovering the transformative power of theater at Dartmouth College, Lou-Lou obtained her MFA in Dramatic Writing from NYU Tisch Asia (Singapore). An award-winning writer, Lou-Lou is excited to premiere her thesis play Iyom.

JESSICA CREANE (Director) Jessica is a freelance stage director based in New York City. Recent New York credits include the sold-out run of Snow White Zombie: Apocalypse at the 2012 NYC Fringe Festival, Can I Get A Smile? (Women at Work Festival), and the award-winning U.S. debut of Antenora (Planet Connections Festivity). She is currently the Resident Director at State of Play Theater Company. She has worked on Broadway as the Assistant Director on Roundabout Theater Company's Tony-nominated production of Don't Dress For Dinner, as well as Off-Broadway with The Acting Company and Primary Stages, where she was the Assistant Director on the world premiere of A.R. Gurney's Black Tie at 59E59. She has also worked regionally at Westport Country Playhouse with Mark Lamos, David Kennedy, and Scott Schwartz, among others.

WorkShop Theater Company's mission is to provide a creative home for a diverse group of playwrights, directors, and actors. WorkShop has developed hundreds of plays, among them Eddie Antar's NY Times Critics' Pick, Drama Desk-nominated, and NY Innovative Theatre Award-winning hit The Navigator ("cruises in entertainingly high gear" - NY Times) and Ken Jaworowski's Interchange (NY Times Critics' Pick). Another WorkShop play, Allan Knee's The Man Who Was Peter Pan, became the acclaimed film Finding Neverland, which received an Academy Award nomination for its screenplay by David Magee and was produced by Nellie Bellflower - both of whom are WorkShop Theater Company alumni.