Spring Stage Presents Scintillating and Sexy Dark Comedy VENUS IN FUR

Silver Spring Stage presents Venus in Fur by David Ives, directed by John Dellaporta and produced by Pam Burks, a suspense-packed study of the erotics of power, in which the two participants prove to be seriously, almost scarily adept. Venus in Fur will perform weekends July 10 to August 1, 2015.

Silver Spring Stage is located in the Woodmoor Shopping Center, lower level (next to the CVS) at Colesville Road and University Boulevard. Ticket prices are $20 for adults and $18 for seniors and students. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8:00 PM and Sundays July 19 and July 26 at 2:00 PM. Tickets can be purchased at www.ssstage.org. Information is also available by calling (301) 593-6036.

Note: Venus in Fur contains use of strobe lights, explicit language, sexual content, weapons of various sorts, loud noises, and adult themes. Parental discretion is advised.

David Ives, a playwright of wide range and talent authoring such comedies as All in the Timing and Is He Dead? and the drama New Jerusalem, wrote: "My play Venus in Fur began with a very powerful, very bad idea." It wasn't really a bad idea, it was a originally mistaken one. He tried to adapt the book The Story of O but couldn't get the rights. He then discovered the novella Venus in Furs by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch. The 1870 novel made the author famous by introducing masochism from his name. Ives: "Venus in Fur sparks with the friction of two buttoned-up people in an erotic power play who challenge, resist and disagree with each other even while bound by mutual sexual attraction. That sure sounded dramatic to me." Abandoning a notion to write a four-person play, he settled masterfully on the two-person play with the actors playing a director and actress and the book's two principals. The result is something dark, funny and delicious and more than just sexy and smart. It's mysterious as is the motives of its characters. As the director says: You can't remember who you are, much less what they're supposed to be." With Venus in Fur, audiences will be unable to resist to find out.

Thomas Novachek (Christopher Andersen) is the writer-director of a new play opening in New York City; this play-within-the-play is an adaptation of the 1870 novel Venus in Furs by the Austrian author Leopold von Sacher-Masoch. The play begins with Novachek on the telephone lamenting the inadequacies of the actresses who have showed up that day to audition for the lead character, Wanda von Dunayev. Suddenly, at the last minute, a new actress, Vanda Jordan (Alexandra Friendly), arrives. She's brash, vulgar and unschooled. But she convinces him to let her audition for the part of Wanda, with the director/writer reading the part of Severin von Kushemski. Mysteriously, Vanda knows the lines and the role eerily and enticingly well. It would steal the thunder to tell more. Suffice to say, the excitement in watching Venus in Fur is not knowing exactly what will happen.

Silver Spring Stage is excited to announce its 2015-2016 season: 2015 One-Act Festival (Aug. 20-30, 2015), Private Eyes by Steven Dietz(Sept. 18-Oct.10, 2015), The Metal Children by Adam Rapp (Oct. 30-Nov. 21, 2015), Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some) by Michael Carleton, James Fitzgerald, and John K. Alvarez (Dec. 11-20, 2015), Humble Boy by Charlotte Jones (Jan. 8-30, 2016), Animals Out of Paper by Rajiv Joseph (Feb.19-Mar. 12, 2016), Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare (Apr. 1-17, 2016), Miss Witherspoon by Christopher Durang (May 13-June 4, 2016), and Clybourne Park by Bruce Norris (June 24-July 17, 2016)

Silver Spring Stage has provided quality, affordable theatre for over 40 years. We are an all-volunteer, non- profit organization and appreciate any contribution to enable us to offer excellent and entertaining productions. Thank you for your interest and support of Silver Spring Stage. All programs at Silver Spring Stage are made possible in part by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council.

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