Pro Rata Presents Local Premiere of CAT'S PAW, 9/10

On Sept 10, 2011 Pro Rata will open Cat's Paw by William Mastrosimone at The Gremlin Theatre, in St. Paul, MN.

THE PLAY:
Cat's Paw is a compelling and complex play about eco-terrorism and the media. Written and set in the mid-1980s, the eerily prophetic script pre-dates the Unibomber, Oklahoma City, and 9/11. It focuses on a standoff between a self-described guerilla warrior and an up-and-coming journalist on The Edge of her big break, two individuals who begin the play on either side of an ethical divide. The title refers to the fable about manipulation (a monkey convinces a cat to reach into a fire to get chestnuts, and in the end the monkey gets the chestnuts, but the cat's paws are burned). It dramatizes the psychological underpinnings of politically motivated violence, and its morally ambiguous core leaves us wondering how far we would go for what we believe in.

THE PRODUCTION:
The play takes place in an abandoned warehouse somewhere in DC. Company member Julia Carlis will design set and lights, and is stripping down the Gremlin to expose the theater and embrace it as it is... an empty storefront. Carlis says, "The play examines extremes of behavior and belief, but it's set in a very humdrum, ordinary place. The blank of the empty warehouse allows us to focus totally on the whats and whys of the characters."

OF SPECIAL INTEREST:
For the first time, Theatre Pro Rata will offer a post show talk-back session. The audience will be encouraged to ask questions of the cast and crew regarding their experience with the production and also enter a discussion on the timely and poignant themes of the play; those of media and terrorism. The talk-back will happen after the Sunday, September 11th performance, which is the 10th anniversary of 9/11 -- the greatest national tragedy and act of terrorism on American soil in recent times.

THE ARTISTS:
Cat's Paw features Pro Rata veterans Kathy Kupiecki (Jessica), David Beukema (Victor), and Katie Willer (Cathy), and debuts Nathan Tylutki (Mr. Darling). Cat's Paw is directed by Artistic Director, Carin Bratlie, who says of the production: "How far would you go for what you believe in? Where is the line drawn, and what responsibility do we have? These are the questions that excite me about this project." Individuals are available for interview/comment by request.

THEATRE PRO RATA:
Since 2001 Pro Rata, Latin for "in proportion," has created intimate, captivating theater, using a love for the play as the primary connection between the stage and the audience. This has allowed Theatre Pro Rata to pursue classics and contemporaries, tragic dramas and black comedies. Recent accolades for Pro Rata include set design for Killer Joe (2008, City Pages), Julie Ann Nevill's cross-gender performance in The Life of Galileo (2009, Lavender Magazine), and overall production for Metamorphoses (2008, Lavender Magazine). Theatre Pro Rata utilizes a unique sliding scale for all ticketing, allowing patrons to name their own price from $14 to $41, and features complimentary pre-show sensory tours for blind or hard-of-sight patrons (by appointment only).

Performances:

Saturday, Sept 10 @ 7:30 (opening night)
Sunday, Sept 11 @ 3:00 (ASL/AD/post show discussion)
Monday Sept 12 @ 7:30 (Pay What You Can Performance)

Thursday, Sept 15 @ 7:30 (ASL/AD)
Friday, Sept 16 @ 7:30
Saturday, Sept 17 @ 7:30
Sunday, Sept 18 @ 3:00

Thursday, Sept 22 @ 7:30
Friday, Sept 23 @ 7:30
Saturday, Sept 24 @ 7:30
Sunday, Sept 25 @ 3:00 (closing)

All performances at The Gremlin Theatre,
2400 University Ave, St. Paul, MN 55114
General admission tickets on a sliding scale from $14 to $41, cash or check.
For reservations, please call (612) 874-9321, or email info@theatreprorata.org, or visit our website at http://www.theatreprorata.org for more information.

This activity funded, in part, by the Minnesota arts and cultural heritage fund as appropriated by the Minnesota Stage Legislature with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.

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