La MaMa presents to Present Mokwha Repertory Company's THE TEMPEST

La MaMa - the world-renowned theatre complex in the heart of New York City's East Village - today announced its next production of its 53rd Season entitled "LA MAMA EARTH," featuring works that raise awareness of world ecology and social justice both locally and globally: the Mokwha Repertory Company from Korea's adaptation of Shakespeare's THE TEMPEST, set in 5th century Korea will play four performances only at the Ellen Stewart Theatre (66 E. 4 St.) from Nov. 20-23. This Korean TEMPEST is the 2nd installment of a TEMPEST trilogy being staged by La MaMa this season on the 2-year anniversary of Hurricane Sandy. The trilogy began last month with an accclaimed production of THE TEMPEST directed by Karin Coonrod with music by Elizabeth Swados, and will conclude in December with NELLA TEMPESTA from Italy.

The US premiere of Seoul, Korea's Mokwha Repertory Company production of The Tempest, is adapted and directed by Tae-Suk Oh. Inspired by a true story from the Korean Chronicles Of The Three Kingdoms, this Tempest is set in 5th century Korea and infuses Shakespeare's text with elements of traditional Korean folklore and offers theater-goers the opportunity to experience Shakespeare's play through a very different cultural lens. With music played on Korean instruments and performed in richly layered costumes, this mind-bending production explores acts of nature as they are affected by acts of betrayal, love, forgiveness and reconciliation.

Four performances only - November 20th - 23rd - at the Ellen Stewart Theatre. Tickets will be $30 Adults; $25 Students/Seniors. Performances will be Thursday through Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 4:00pm. The performance runs 90 minutes.

In Mokwha Repertory Company's adaptation of The Tempest, Shakespeare's original finds itself caught and torn apart in the eye of a storm; then reassembled with Korean traditional theatrical and music styles to create something unique, fascinating and riotously enjoyable. What impresses most however is the charming appeal of the piece as a whole. With its enthusiastic performances; direction which nods to the fourth wall; and its colourfully creative design: Mokwha's The Tempest casts an irresistible spell over audiences.

"Tae Suk-Oh is an artist who was part of the early presentation of Korean art that happened at La MaMa since the early 1970s," says Mia Yoo, La MaMa's Artistic Director. "In 1977 his Hamlet created a sensation at La MaMa and went on to tour all over the world. To have him back with us after all these years is very meaningful. And it is especially important to have his Tempest be a part of our Tempest 3 series because of the environmental issues facing Korea. While this production is not about climate change per se, the way in which Tae Suk-Oh's work weaves Korea's cultural past and present makes it a perfect show for La MaMa."

Michael Billington, in his four star review in The Guardian hailed this production as "an eloquent testament to the fusion of the best of east and west. It mixes Shakespeare's narrative with elements of fifth-century Korean history and traditional dance-drama, and proves yet again the benefits of cultural cross-fertilisation."

THE TEMPEST is Shakespeare's last play written alone - believed to have been written in 1610 - set on a remote island, where Prospero, the rightful Duke of Milan, plots to outwit his scheming brother and restore his daughter Miranda to her rightful place in the kingdom. To accomplish this, Prospero uses illusion and manipulation, conjuring up a massive storm that helps lay bare the truth.

The third and final production will be the U.S. premiere of Nella Tempesta by Motus Theatre. Italy's provocative and dynamic MOTUS Theatre Company explores questions of freedom, control and power in Nella Tempesta. Reflecting on the turmoil in our society - the impact of Hurricane Sandy, the consequences of the economic crisis and questioning of future landscapes - Nella Tempesta is created from fragments of novels by authors including: Philip K. Dick, William Gibson, Aldous Huxley as well as Shakespeare's The Tempest and Une Tempête by Aimé Césaire. This version of The Tempest imagines the play about a world not as it appears to be ending, but a world on the verge of a new beginning. Eight performances only December 11th - 21st. Tickets will be $30 Adults; $25 Students/Seniors.

Throughout the "LA MAMA EARTH" season there will be post-show dialogues with environmental experts and human rights activists on a range of subjects from climate change to other relevant ecological and social issues globally.

An integral part of New York City's cultural landscape, La MaMa has a worldwide reputation for producing daring work in theatre, dance, performance art, and music that defies form and transcends boundaries of language, race, and culture. Founded in 1961 by theatre pioneer and legend Ellen Stewart, La MaMa is a global organization with creative partners and dedicated audiences around the world. La MaMa presents an average of 60-70 productions annually, most of which are world premieres. To date, over 3,500 productions have been presented at La MaMa with artists from more than 70 nations. Honored with more than 30 OBIE Awards, dozens of Drama Desk and Bessie Awards, La MaMa's programming is culturally diverse, cross-disciplinary and draws audiences from all walks of life. For the second consecutive year, La MaMa will offer its 10@$10 program whereby 10 tickets are made available for every performance in every theatre in advance for only $10. La MaMa gratefully acknowledges The Coca-Cola Foundation, Ford Foundation, The Howard Gilman Foundation and National Endowment for the Arts, New York State Council on the Arts and New York City Department of Cultural Affairs for their generous support of Tempest 3: The Tide is Rising.