Hannah Nyala's Memoir POINT LAST SEEN Gets World Premiere at Theater at Monmouth Tonight

Theater at Monmouth presents a world-premiere adaptation of Hannah Nyala's memoir Point Last Seen featuring Odelle Bowman tonight, August 14 at 7:30 p.m. Join Odelle Bowman for this work-in-progress presentation as she tells the story of Hannah Nyala, search and rescue tracker, who escapes an abusive marriage by teaching herself to track in the Mojave Desert. A post-performance discussion with the artists will follow the performance.

Bowman first encountered the memoir Point Last Seen by Nyala ten years ago when a friend mentioned it and said it was meant for her. Bowman connected with the story immediately, but the journey to the stage adaptation wasn't as quick. "It has lay in waiting for some time," Bowman said. "Always in my mind, but never the right time within my life itself." During this time, Bowman met Nyala at a women's tracking conference in Massachusetts, and collaboration began between the two women. Bowman and Nyala became friends though phone conversations, emails, and Nyala's blog, www.pointlastseen.com.

"I am the vessel for Hannah's story and strive to do her journey justice," Bowman said. "She is a remarkable human being." Bowman took Nyala's story and adapted it into a 90-minute presentation, something Bowman says was "an often daunting task."

Odelle Bowman is a professional actor/director, storyteller, and arts educator. She is the founder of the Cassandra Project, a women's performing arts festival in Portland. She was the Director of the Maine Humanities program "Girls Going Places', bringing the arts and humanities to youth incarcerated at Long Creek Development Center for six years. In 2002 she was one of three women honored with the Maine Women's Fund Award. Prior to her work in non-profits she was an ensemble member with Mad Horse Theatre Company and performed at Portland Stage and many regional theatres. Her current focus is to bring to the stage original works of theatre that help to illuminate our world past and present.

Point Last Seen features Odelle Bowman as Hannah Nyala. Project collaborators include: Dawn McAndrews (dramaturgy) Michael Reidy (sets and lights), Barb Truex (original score), Susan Bickford (video), and Christine McDowell (costumes). Tickets are $25. Discounts available for groups of 10 or more. For calendar and reservations, please contact the TAM Box Office at 207.933.9999 or visit www.theateratmonmouth.org.

Theater at Monmouth, founded in 1970, was named the Shakespearean Theater of Maine by the State Legislature in 1975. The theatre's mission is to present innovative approaches to Shakespeare and other classic plays through professional productions that enrich the lives of people throughout Maine. Since its founding, TAM has produced expertly crafted, engaging productions in its three-month Summer Repertory Season entertaining audiences from 36 states and through Education Tours annually reaching more than 15,000 students statewide.