Epic Theatre to Stage Reimagined ANIMAL FARM

One of the most masterful works of political satire comes alive onstage in Epic Theatre Company's "Animal Farm." The story of a group of livestock overthrowing their oppressors only to end up resembling their human captors is being reimagined in a lean and mean new production.

A group of campaign workers toil away at their makeshift office trying to get a fresh face elected into office so they can get rid of the corrupt political incumbent. One of them picks up a copy of George Orwell's "Animal Farm" and begins to read. Slowly, the campaign workers find themselves getting drawn into the story, and the lines between fantasy and reality begin to disappear.

"I can't think of a more appropriate show to be doing right now," says Epic Artistic Director Kevin Broccoli. "Animal Farm was one of the last shows I chose to put in the season, and at that time, the political climate was tense, but not nearly as chaotic as it is now. As we're working on this show, we find ourselves amazed at how a novel from 1945 has so eerily predicted our current circumstances."

The staging allows the audience to view the story in a different way. "I knew I wanted to do something inspired by what the Elevator Repair Service does in New York," says Broccoli, "So we decided to embrace the moment-everything is about politics right now, so why not just drop the show right into the middle of a political campaign?" Epic is also working with Providence's own Big Nazo to integrate masks into the show.

"Erminio and the team at Big Nazo are geniuses," Broccoli said, "I couldn't be happier to have them onboard. They're going to add that touch of spectacle. Just when you think you know what's coming, we're going to pull the rug right out from under you."

Broccoli directs a cast that includes Jack Albanese, Vanessa Blanchette, Andrew Conley, Dan Fisher, Ian Hudgins, Lexie Lankiewicz, Frank O'Donnell, Justin Paige, and Jason Quinn.