Brecht's First Play Baal Opens Off-Broadway March 1

Bertolt Brecht's first play, Baal, translated by Eric Bentley, opens Thursday, March 1 at The Looking Glass Theatre. The production is directed by Charmian Creagle and features music composed by Alan S. Hewitt.

"Baal lives in a world of pleasures without regret. Society and religion dictate that this is the wrong way to live. Baal lives outside the box and rejects its safety. Is it Baal's rejection of the "rules" of society that causes his downward spiral or is it the 'rules' themselves?," state press notes.
 
In this production, a woman is cast in the title role. Is 'he/she' another one of life's many boxes? Gender and sexuality in our society are still hot-button issues as people try to fit life into definitive boxes. 'Are you gay or straight?' 'How can one physically be female and feel male?' Why do we need these definitions so badly when it makes more sense to accept that a whole range of possibilities exists? We are STILL very gender specific. It must fit 'in the box.'
 
This production of Baal is in a different type of box. The theater itself is a dark, Weimar cabaret where the old German and new American freaks and artists converge to tell the story of a character who is a hero to some and a demon to others."
 
The cast includes Lyndsey Anderson, Sara Jeanne Asselin*, Jennifer Boehm, Jane Elliott, John Forkner, Kyle Haggerty, Melissa House, Jadelynn Stahl, and Kymberlie Stansell.
 
The creative team includes Charmian Creagle (Director), Chanda Calentine (Assistant Director/Stage Manager), Mariana Carbonell (Assistant Director/Stage Manager), Alan S. Hewitt (Composer/Musical Director), Romanka Zajac (Set Designer), Ryan Metzler (Lighting Designer), Rien Schlecht (Costume Designer), Amiti Perry (Choreographer) and Jennifer Perrotta (Production Assistant).
 
The Looking Glass Theatre's mission is to explore and expand the feminine aesthetic, producing women directors' visions of the classics and new plays either directed or written by women. This June, The Looking Glass Theatre and Artistic Director Justine Lambert received The Lucille Lortel Award from The League of Professional Theatre Women. Additionally, New York Resident named Ms. Lambert one of the Top 100 New Yorkers of 2003 for her work with the company.

There is nudity in this production.

The show plays Thursday-Saturday @ 8pm, Sunday at. 5pm, March 1 - 25, 2007.  Tickets are $15.00 General Admission, $12.00 with valid student ID.  The theatre is located at 422 W. 57th St. between 9th and 10th Avenues.  Call (212) 352-3101 or visit www.theatermania.com.  Please call (212) 307-9467 or visit www.lookingglasstheatrenyc.com for more information.