Next Theatre Company Presents IPHIGENIA 2.0, 9/6-10/14

 Next Theatre Company announces the first production of its 2012 – 2013 Season, Iphigenia 2.0 by Charles Mee and directed by David Kersnar, at Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes Street. Previews are Thursday, Sept. 6 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Sept. 7 and Saturday, Sept. 8 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 9 at 2 p.m. Opening night is Tuesday, September 11 at 7 p.m. The regular performance schedule is Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. There are Saturday 4 p.m. performances September 22 and 29 and October 6 and 13. Tickets for previews are $25 and for the run, $30 - $40 with subscriber and student discounts available. Tickets may be purchased at nexttheatre.org or by calling 847-475-1875 x2.

Lookingglass Theatre's David Kersnar brings his unique brand of physical theatre to the Next stage in Mee's Iphigenia 2.0. An exuberant and modern update of Iphigenia at Aulis by Euripides, Iphigenia 2.0 is filled with pop culture references and music framing the tragic ways in which history continues to repeat itself especially in times of war. A great imperial power decides to go to battle, taking an action so wrong that it sets the empire on the road to complete self-destruction. Agamemnon, the leader of the Greek army, must prove to his uncertain troops that the dangerous battle they are about to undertake is righteous and worthy of their bloodshed. Public opinion polls, a lust for fame and a world where the line between entertainment and news is blurred find a leader troubled and tormented with the decision to make his daughter the ultimate sacrifice.

The cast includes Rebecca Buller, Aaron Todd Douglas, Laura T. Fisher, Ricardo Gutierrez and Nick Vidal. 

The production team is made up of set design, Jacqueline and Rick Penrod; lighting design, Heather Gilbert; sound design, Rick Sims and costume design, Marianna Czaszar.