Center Stage's MY AMERICA to Premiere 7/4

Center Stage announced this week that its acclaimed digital theater project My America has become a feature length film that will premiere world-wide on July 4, 2014, exclusively through streaming service Fandor, followed by a special July 9 screening at the IFC center in New York City.

Conceived and commissioned in 2012 under the leadership of Center Stage Artistic Director Kwame Kwei-Armah, My America is a digital collection of 50 monologues by some of the nation's most innovative playwrights, including Marcus Gardley, Anna Deavere Smith, and Christopher Durang. The monologues confront complex topics in the American consciousness from race and religion to the nuances of The American Dream, and are performed by noteworthy actors such as Jefferson Mays (Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder), Kristine Nielsen (Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike), and Tracie Thoms (Rent).

Watch the trailer here: www.fandor.com/films/my_america.

Award-winning director Hal Hartley, the filmmaker behind the My America shorts, has woven 21 of the original monologues together in a seamless blend of humor and poignant introspection on American culture. Hartley's previous work has won numerous awards at both the Cannes and Sundance film festivals, and he has collaborated regularly with Fandor CEO Ted Hope (Producer: American Splendor, In the Bedroom) since 1989.

Fandor is a unique streaming service that provides access to thousands of independent films from over 100 countries.

Kwei-Armah was thrilled to learn that the site will host the film's premiere: "With My America, I wanted our theater to examine what the next great stages for theatrical artists might be and how we can share those stories in a way that makes the art more accessible. I think the collaboration with the Fandor platform will continue to support that mission."

Continued Hartley: "I'm excited to be distributing My America on Fandor as it offers such an uncomplicated and direct outlet for the film to connect with audiences."

My America was the inaugural project of Center Stage's initiative CS Digital, a program dedicated to exploring the intersection of art and technology in the 21st century and providing access to top theater professionals through digital engagement. The monologues were commissioned in celebration of Center Stage's 50th Anniversary and remain available to audiences around the world at www.youtube.com/user/centerstagemyamerica.

Hartley and Hope will also host a screening and Q&A session for the film at the IFC Center on Wednesday, July 9 at 7 pm. General admission tickets can be purchased online at the address below. Adult tickets are $14.
http://bit.ly/1wxZx7E

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