RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN Comes To Out of Box Theatre

Can any woman really "have it all?" Gina Gionfriddo's comedy RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN features two women, Cathy and Gwen, who took different paths after college and are asking the same question. While Cathy (Shakespeare Tavern's Laura Cole) built a career as a "rock star academic," Gwen (Jill Hames Graham) built a home with her husband and children. Decades later, when Cathy returns home, Cathy and Gwen realize the depth of their unfulfillments and so begin a risky game of musical chairs as each tries to claim the other's territory.

Rapture, Blister, Burn at Out of Box Theatre also features stellar performances by Dianne Butler, Bryn Striep, and Zip Rampy. "Casting was a real privilege," said director Kristin Kalbli, noting that she was looking for "heart and humor" in the auditions. "These actors brought an extra dimension of vulnerability and relatability into the auditions."

Kalbli is thrilled to make her full-length directorial debut at Out of Box Theatre, saying, "I know [they] are committed to bringing brainy, challenging, and human stories [outside the perimeter] and I have been a part of that mission as an actor here since their second season... [Directing] only reinforces my experience of Out of Box as an artistically rewarding and energizing place to work." Because Out of Box Theatre is known for presenting challenging and daring shows, Kalbli calls Rapture, Blister, Burn a perfect fit because "it challenges both sides of the feminist equation, and leaves us with no clear answers. If anything, it asks us to think deeply about the discrepancy between what feminism told us was possible, and what it could realistically deliver."

In a world where Cheryl Sandberg is exhorting women to "Lean In" to their careers, Beyonce and J-Lo have declared themselves feminists, and we have a female presidential candidate, Rapture, Blister, Burn injects us into the middle of the discussion. Exploring the naivety, imperfections, and disillusionment that many men and women face, Rapture, Blister, Burn is not a blind endorsement of any ideal, but sparks realistic conversation about modern relationships and society. The relatable characters and situations presented make Gionfriddo's comedy an excellent choice for an evening or afternoon of entertainment, laughter, and lively discussion.

Rapture, Blister, Burn by Gina Gionfriddo runs June 10 through June 25, 2016, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8:00 PM, Sunday matinees at 3:00 PM. Out of Box Theatre is a 501(c)3 non-profit professional theatre located just outside the perimeter in the Artisan Resource Center at 585 Cobb Parkway S, Marietta, GA 30060. Tickets are $17-$25 and can be purchased online at www.outofboxtheatre.com or by calling the box office at 678-653-4605.

Photo Credits: Out of Box Theatre

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