Genesis Repertory Celebrates Tenth Anniversary At Cannes, Fringe Festival, And More

Gen X: Genesis Repertory turns 10 at the Cannes Film Festival ~ New York International Fringe Festival ~ Readers Ensemble Summer Festival ~ Block Institute. One of NY's premiere classical companies celebrates a decade in a big way!

Genesis Repertory will now take up residency in the 350-seat theatre located in The Block Institute on Bay 44th Street in Brooklyn. The respected institute for individuals with special needs will serve as home base for Genesis 10th anniversary season and will enable The company to expand its educational programming, which already includes acting, vocal training, and the widely popular audition and networking workshop. Genesis will have a special anniversary gala in September, a presentation of Dickens's A Christmas Carol (the original stage version, written by Dickens's himself), and a revival of The company's highly acclaimed production of Romeo & Juliet. The BLOCK INSTITUTE is located at 376 Bay 44th Street, Brooklyn.

Genesis presents THE CHECK IS IN THE MAIL as part of the 13th Annual Fringe Festival. This black comedy revolves around an ensemble of four arrogant entrepreneurs. Business barons, Leon and Jerry, had the world in the pockets of their tailored suits... until Leon got greedy. Now they must eliminate the competition... literally. The play takes a surreal turn as office workers begin a war dance, spiraling toward the play's unavoidable conclusion. Directed and designed by Mary Elizabeth MiCari, Genesis' artistic director and Broadway technician, the play features Allen Lewis Rickman and J. Michaels as Leon and Jerry; Francis Callahan as their "consultant," Cynthia Granville as their colleague-turned-competition, and Kristin O'Blessin as their long-time, long-suffering secretary. Dancers Joyce A. Beck, Stefanie Smith, and Kristin O' Blessin are the temps-turned-tappers in the bailout ballet. The play is written by Robert Liebowitz.

The Players Theatre, 115 MacDougal Street, NYC, 8/14 @ 5 p.m., 8/16 @ 10:30 p.m., 8/17 @ 4:15 p.m., 8/29 @ 8:30 p.m., and 8/30 @ 3:45 p.m. Tickets: $15. For information/tickets visit www.FringeNYC.org or call (866) 468-7619

Genesis members appeared in the new film, Norman Normal: A Modern Metamorphosis, at the Cannes Film Festival. The movie won several festival honors and now has a distributor. It won't be long until it is "coming to a theatre near you."

J. Michaels, the president of the board of Genesis Repertory will be one of the four guest directors for The Readers' Ensemble Company Summer Festival 2009. Mr. Michaels directs The Madwoman of Chaillot, which features members of Genesis' acting program. One Night Only: Monday, July 27 at 7:00 p.m. at The University of the Streets, 130 East 7th Street ~ NYC $8 All Seats (check the website for discounts) www.readersensemblecompany.org for reservation or further information.

Beginning as an arts & education project in the Lower East Side in 1999, Genesis' trademark is combining history and pop culture with the plays of Shakespeare and his contemporaries is exemplified with The "Kennedy" Hamlet, set in Dallas 1963; Romeo & Juliet in Jerusalem (Romeo is Jewish, Juliet is Palestinian); Macbeth in 1940s Argentina; Faustus as a tribute to Orson Welles; and a Fellini-esque Richard III utilizing puppetry with live action. Genesis also sponsored productions and initiatives at Fordham University, LaMama, The Greek Cultural Center, Yeshiva University, Cypreco of America, College Now, and assisted in the creation of Kingsborough College's Performing Arts Society. The King Series, Genesis contemporary works division presents plays classical in structure.

Photo: Michael Fortunato and Amy K. Browne

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