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Life Force Theatre Presents New York Premiere of Theresa Rebeck's WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST

Sep. 21, 2016  

Life Force Arts, Inc. has announced it will stage WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST, Theresa Rebeck's ever-timely and relevant comedy / drama which examines the intricacies of wage equality and gender roles in the workplace. The production will run just as the 2016 Presidential debates and ensuing election are underway. Lorca Peress will direct the production that runs October 21 - October 29 at the June Havoc Theatre, 312 West 36th Street, first floor.

Set in a highly competitive architecture firm, WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST presents a burning examination of the complicatEd Battle of the sexes that rage across Cubicle Land. A funny yet insightful view of what it means to be female in a male-dominated career and one woman's response when she tires of slamming into the glass ceiling.

WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST premiered at The Magic Theatre in San Francisco in February, 2011 and the Alley Theatre in Houston in 2014.

Theresa Rebeck is a widely produced playwright throughout the United States and abroad. New York productions of her work include Dead Accounts at the Music Box Theatre; Seminar at the Golden Theatre; Mauritius at the Biltmore Theatre in a Manhattan Theater Club Production; The Scene, The Water's Edge, Loose Knit, The Family of Mann and Spike Heels at Second Stage; Bad Dates, The Butterfly Collection and Our House at Playwrights Horizons; The Understudy at the Laura Pels Theater in a Roundabout Theatre Company production; and View of the Dome at New York Theatre Workshop. Omnium Gatherum (co-written, finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2003) was featured at the Humana Festival, and had a commercial run at the Variety Arts Theatre. In television, Ms. Rebeck has written for Dream On, Brooklyn Bridge, L.A. Law, American Dreamer, Maximum Bob, First Wave, and Third Watch. She was the creator of the NBC drama Smash. She has been a writer/producer for Canterbury's Law, Smith, Law and Order: Criminal Intent and NYPD Blue. Other awards include the PEN/Laura Pels Foundation Award, the Athena Film Festival Award, an Alex Award, a Lilly Award and in 2011 she was named one of the 150 Fearless Women in the World by Newsweek.

Director Lorca Peress specializes in directing multicultural and multidisciplinary new works, and is an advocate for gender parity and diversity in theatre. She is a former Co-President of the League of Professional Theatre Women, and Founding Artistic Director of MultiStages. Credits include new works at Joe's Pub (The Public Theatre), HERE, Soho Playhouse, NJ Repertory, La MaMa, et al. Awards: La MaMa Inky, HOLA, NY Innovative Theatre Nominations, National Opera Competition (CUNY productions), and others. NYU Tisch Strasberg Studio faculty and SDC member.

The cast of WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST features Vince Bandille (NJ Playhouse 22)?, Lesley McBurney (Onion News Network, The Public Theatre), Cherie Mendez (LA Indie Fest Winner), ?Bones Rodriguez (Ars Nova, Law & Order: SVU)?, Ean Sheehy (NY Theatre Workshop, The Public Theatre), and understudy Alejandro Santoni (Judas Iscariot, Actors Studio).

The production features set design by Jennifer Varbalow (Roundabout Theatre Co., The Drilling Co.)?, lighting design by Jason Fok (Classical Theatre of Harlem, Portland Stage)??, original music by Joel Harrison (Guggenheim Fellow, Jazz Composer's Alliance Composition Winner)?, costume design by Lisa Renee Jordan (NYMTF Design Award, Drama Desk Nominee)?, video/projection design by Christopher Marston (indie filmmaker), and Production Stage Manager Dustin Z. West* (Broadway: Shuffle Along, Off Broadway: Delirium's Daughters).

Performances of WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST will be held on October 21-29: Fri., 10/21 at 7:00pm; Sat., 10/22 at 7:00pm; ?Sun., 10/23 at 2:00pm (Talk Back following the show); Tues., 10/25 at 7:00pm; ?Wed., 10/26 at 7:00pm; ?Thurs., 10/27 at 7:00pm; ?Fri., 10/28 at 7:00pm (Benefit Performance); Sat., 10/29 at 2:00pm and 7:00pm. Matinees will be held on Sun., 10/23 at 2:00pm and Sat., 10/29 at 2:00pm.

Tickets are $18.00 (general seating) and $12.00 (students), and available athttps://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/964543 or by calling (212) 352-3101.

ABOUT LIFE FORCE ARTS: Life Force Arts, Inc. aims to encourage greater understanding and appreciation of the arts while igniting conversation about the vital issues in the world around us. Through both financing and education, Life Force Arts strives to nurture the development and presentation of works in music, film and theater - works that inspire a greater exploration of the social and political climates of today.



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