MOTHER EMANUEL Returns 9/9, in the Fringe Encore Series

Mother Emanuel, the winner of FringeNYC's Overall Excellence Award: Musical, will return to the Soho Playhouse as part of the Fringe Encore Series starting September 9th.

Mother Emanuel is a dramatic interpretation of the events that took place at Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church on the evening of June 17th 2015 when a young white man named Dylann Roof entered a Bible Study Group and sat for about an hour before fatally shooting nine members of the congregation. Travelling through past and present, the story focuses on the final hour of those nine men and women whose actions, both real and imagined, are characterized by their faith, kindness and deep commitment to their families and community, echoing the resilient history of Mother Emanuel Church itself. Enhanced by live music and song that includes a host of stirring spirituals and gospel tunes, Mother Emanuel is both a musical play and a moving testament against gun violence.

"A gorgeous rafter-raising gospel musical...an excellent piece of documentary theater...Stumbling across a treasure like that is one of the joys of Fringe-going" - Laura Collins-Hughes, NY Times

"Though appropriately weighty the play doesn't forget to entertain" *****(five stars) -Amelia Bienstock, Time Out New York

"Under Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj's meticulous direction, Christian Lee Branch, Marquis Gibson, Lauren Shaye and Nicole Stacie sing, dance and act their way into the hearts of the audience" David Roberts, Theatre Reviews Limited

"Mother Emanuel deserves to leave the "fringe" to enter the mainstream of American Theater" Ernece Kelly, New York Beacon

Playwright and director/choreographer Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj has been hailed by the New York Times as "one of the most talented directors in New York these days". Numbered among his directing and credits are 365 Days (Public Theater), Marat Sade (Classical Theatre of Harlem), Diss Diss and Diss Dat (a new hip-hop musical written and directed for New Federal Theatre), The Black Nativity (The Goodman Theatre), Little Rock (Passage Theatre, 2015 Barrymore Award for Outstanding Ensemble in A Play), Dreamgirls (Theatre of the Stars with Jennifer Holliday) andMaster Harold and The Boys (Portland Stage). Playwriting credits include Little Rock, The Ballad of Trayvon Martin and Grey and Twenty Five, Hansberry/Baldwin (Semi-Finalist for the Eugene O'Neill Playwrights Festival). He is currently the Guest Artist Director at New Freedom Theatre in Philadelphia.

Rebel Theater is committed as a professional theater company to give a voice to those who are marginalized in society. Producing new works, Rebel passionately strives to explore the full beauty and diversity of the American experience.

Mother Emanuel at Fringe Encore Series begins Friday September 9th at Soho Playhouse (15 Vandam Street between 6th Avenue and Varick Street) at 9PM. The performance schedule is Fri. 9/9 at 9PM, Sat. 9/10 at 7PM, Sun. 9/11 at 3PM, Mon. 9/12 at 8PM andSat. 9/17 at 5PM. Tickets are $22. For information and tickets and go to www.fringenyc-encoreseries.com. For more information go to motheremanueltheplay.com.

Photo Credit: Michela Rynczak

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