Azeotrope Presents JESUS HOPPED THE A TRAIN, Now thru 6/30

After an impressive debut with their production of Red Light Winter in 2010, Seattle theatre company Azeotrope is proud to announce a second production with the Northwest premiere of Jesus Hopped the A Train by Stephen Adly Guirgis, directed by Artistic Associate Desdemona Chiang. Jesus Hopped the A Train opens tonight, June 15, 2012 through June 30, 2012 and is produced in association with Central Heating Lab at A Contemporary Theatre.

Jesus Hopped the A Train is a stark and sobering examination of life, death, salvation, and what it takes to be a "good" person. The play revolves around the relationship between two prisoners at Riker's Island in Manhattan, each of whom believes himself accountable to a higher law than that of the judicial system. Angel Cruz (Richard Nguyen Sloniker) has shot the leader of a religious cult to which he lost his best friend. Lucius Jenkins (Dumi) is a serial killer awaiting extradition to Florida, guilty of the deaths of at least eight people, and during his incarceration, Lucius finds God. Assigned to protective custody at Riker's, Angel and Lucius find themselves in close company each other during their daily hour of outdoor exercise. The two struggle and clash in their mutual guilt, innocence and faith in higher powers.

"We are interested in Jesus Hopped the A Train because it expresses a unique story deeply rooted in the human psyche," says Artistic Director Richard Nguyen Sloniker. " Azeotrope strives to do work with the courage to go beyond comfort and into realms that are implausible to contend with."

"Jesus Hopped the A Train provides representation for marginalized and disenfranchised people that few Seattle residents have seen on stage," says Director Desdemona Chiang. "We are also excited to present the raw, muscular, and relentless voice of Stephen Adly Guirgis."

Jesus Hopped the A Train features performances by Richard Nguyen Sloniker (Red Light Winter, The Cider House Rules), Ray Tagavilla (A Lie of the Mind, The Mistakes Madeline Made), Angela DiMarco (Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Mother in Another Language), Patrick Allcorn (The Bells, Border Songs) and newcomer Dumi, in the role of Lucius Jenkins. The creative team includes scenic design by Deanna Zibello, lighting design by Jessica Trundy, and costume design by Kimberley Newton.

FULL DATES AND SCHEDULE:
Thursday, June 14, 7:30pm (Preview)
Friday, June 15, 7:30pm (Opening Night)
Saturday, June 16, 2:00pm and 7:30pm
Sunday, June 17, 2:00pm
Thursday, June 21, 7:30pm
Friday, June 22, 7:30pm
Saturday, June 23, 2:00pm and 7:30pm
Sunday, June 24, 2:00pm
Thursday, June 28, 7:30pm
Friday, June 29, 7:30pm
Saturday, June 30, 2:00pm and 7:30pm (Closing performance)

JESUS HOPPED THE A TRAIN will be presented at the ACT, Eulalie Scandiuzzi Space, 700 Union Street, Downtown Seattle. Tickets: $25-30; Available to ACTPass holders. Now on sale: (206) 292-7676 or www.acttheatre.org.

Co-founded by Seattle actor Richard Nguyen Sloniker and director Desdemona Chiang, Azeotrope's mission is to create a space where audiences confront the marginalized and obscured, bringing visibility to the invisible. We hope to broaden Seattle?s cultural and artistic environment with vital, urgent, and exciting projects that would otherwise be underrepresented. For more information, please visit www.azotheatre.org. Azeotrope can also be found on Facebook and Twitter (@AZOtheatre).

Launched in 2007, The Central Heating Lab at ACT serves as an incubator and catalyst for new works. ACT cultivates, produces, and presents artists working in all performance genres and provides an artistic home for a variety of local performance groups and artists. Relationships develop daily with individual actors, performers and playwrights while established partnerships with groups such as the Contemporary Classics, 14/48, TheFilmSchool, Collektor, Pinter Fortnightly, Seattle Dance Project, and Icicle Creek Theatre Festival grow and develop. New programs are added throughout the year. With year-round programming produced by The Central Heating Lab at ACT alongside ACT?s Mainstage plays, ACT offers its patrons a unique opportunity to maximize their theatre experience ? the ACTPass: all you can see for only $25 per month. ACTPass Members can attend nearly all ACT produced performances throughout any given month, provided tickets are available. It is the new, more flexible, more affordable way to see more performances for one low price, and is the first of its kind in the region. ACTPass members may cancel at any time, and there is no limit to the number of times a Pass Member can attend.