Third Rail Repertory Theatre Presents THE NETHER by Jennifer Haley

Morris has been assigned to investigate rumors of bizarre and terrifying behavior in The Nether, an online virtual realm where technology can realistically simulate all five of our senses. As her investigation takes her deeper and deeper into this mysterious world, she's forced to face truths about herself that she never knew existed. The Nether is a chilling look into an inevitable future, one that asks: can morality and laws be enforced in a world that doesn't actually exist.

Jennifer Haley is a playwright whose work delves into ethics in virtual reality and the impact of technology on our human relationships, identity, and desire. She won the 2012 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, a Los Angeles Ovation Award and the Francesca Primus Prize for her play, The Nether, which premiered at Center Theatre Group and was subsequently produced at The Royal Court Theatre with Headlong in London. Other plays includeNeighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom, which premiered at The Actors Theatre of Louisville 2008 Humana Festival, and Froggy, in development with Center Theatre Group and American Conservatory Theater. Jennifer's work has been developed at The Banff Centre, the Sundance Theatre Lab, O'Neill National Playwrights Conference, Lark Play Development Center, PlayPenn, Page 73, and the MacDowell Colony. She is a member of New Dramatists in New York City and lives in Los Angeles, where she founded the Playwrights Union.

The Nether delves deeply into the world of virtual online reality. As such, the design team, director, and cast visited Digital Trends' Portland offices to "test drive" a VR rig. The experience was eye-opening and influenced the technical design in many ways.The Nether is, at it's heart, a mystery and a futuristic thriller that probes the shifting morality of the online world. It is set in the near future, so the scenic and lighting design for the show are sure to turn heads. It will be another opportunity for Third Rail to transform the Imago space in inventive ways, after the success of the company's last production, Annapurna.

About Third Rail Repertory Theatre: Third Rail is an artist-driven theatre company whose vitality is defined by its audience's sharp appetite for groundbreaking, innovative work. We promote new plays while exploring The Edges of theatrical style. Third Rail exists to provide a home for artists and theatergoers alike, offering a range of experiences to be shared by the audience and the community.

More information can be found at thirdrailrep.org.