Heart & Dagger Productions Presents POLAROID STORIES, 6/30 - 6/14

Heart & Dagger Productions, in conjunction with Happy Medium Theatre, Inc. (HMT) and Boston Actors Theater, presents a startlingly haunting story to the Boston area with Polaroid Stories, written by Naomi Iizuka and co-directed/choreographed by Joey C. Pelletier (the "bad boy of Boston theatre") and Elise Weiner Wulff. The production runs June 29th – July 14th at the Boston Center for the Arts Black Box Theatre, 539 Tremont Street, Boston, MA, 02118.

Naomi Iizuka's 1997 play, Polaroid Stories, consciously uses stories, characters and themes from Ovid's Metamorphoses to tell the stories of street kids living on The Edge in a desolate, urban landscape. Because these characters are named after Orpheus and Eurydice, and Echo and Narcissus, or based on stories of Dionysus, and Ariadne and Theseus, and because scenes are entitled "The Story of Semele" or "Theseus in the Labyrinth," Iizuka creates a world that has two dimensions: the gritty realm of drug dealers, homeless kids, and prostitutes and the realm of self-fashioning and shape-shifting gods. By blending these two dimensions, Iizuka comments on several Ovidian themes: the relationship of the gods to humans, women as victims, and the power of story-telling.

Mr. Pelletier and Ms. Wulff have taken their cast through a labyrinth of fear, a maze of enlightenment, and a torrent of drug use. Thrusting their actors into a bizarre world of deceased students/street kids/liars/story-tellers/murderers/gods, Joey and Elise have created a world where the darkest of shadows tell the most beautiful of stories.

"There are parallelisms between Ovid's characters and teens, how they deal with their problems, frustrations, and relationships, "says Joey C. Pelletier. "More American teens who are dealing with bullying, prescription drug addiction, and stress are alleviating their pain through death and violence."

The talented, young cast will star: Elizabeth Battey (Echo), Michael Caminiti (SkinheadBoy), Melissa DeJesus (Eurydice) Mikey DiLoreto (D), Denise Drago (Daphne), Danielle Leeber Lucas (Philomel), Robyn Linden (Semele), Amy Meyer (SkinheadGirl u/s/Ensemble), Luke Murtha (Orpheus), Kiki Samko (Persephone), Michael Underhill (Narcissus), Jesse Wood (G), and Erin Rae Zalaski (SkinheadGirl) with a high-octane ensemble featuring Lauren Elias, Nicole Howard, Kate Shanahan, and Sarah Sixt.

Please note that Polaroid Stories is a cautionary tale, yet is not intended for children under that age of 15 due to graphic violence, pervasive drug use, coarse language, and sexually mature themes.

Polaroid Stories by Naomi Iizuka Co-Directors/Choreographers: Joey C. Pelletier and Elise Weiner Wulff Sound Designer: Tony Knapp Light Designer: Michael Clark Wonson Scenic Design/Construction: Sean A. Cote Stage Manager: Samantha MacArthur Assistant Stage Manager: Jenna Stelmok Graphic Designer: Anne E. Austin Properties: Erin Rae Zalaski Costume Designers: Mikey DiLoreto and Elise Weiner Wulff Dramturg: Lydia Anderson

Friday 6/29 at 8pm (PREVIEW) Saturday 6/30 at 8pm Sunday 7/1 at 3pm Thursday 7/5 at 730pm Friday 7/6 at 8pm Saturday 7/7 at 8pm Sunday 7/8 at 3pm Wednesday 7/11 at 730pm* Thursday 7/12 at 730pm Friday 7/13 at 8pm Saturday 7/14 at 8pm

 * Denotes $5 Industry Night Performance $15 for Senior/Students $20 for Adults

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