New Venue Announced For ARE YOU THERE ZEUS? IT'S ME, ELECTRA, Now Appearing 11/13-11/22 At The Roy Arias

The Looking Glass Theatre, in conjunction with Darrell Fontenot, Alan & Fran Hirschman, and Aliza Shane, presents ARE YOU THERE, ZEUS? IT'S ME, ELECTRA., written and directed by New York Innovative Theatre Award winner Aliza Shane. This new farce based on Sophocles' Electra will play at ROY ARIAS STUDIOS & THEATRES at THE TIMES SQUARE ARTS CENTER, 300 West 43rd Street, 5th floor. Performances are scheduled from this Friday, November 13 through November 22; running Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m.

Electra is determined to avenge her father Agamemnon's death. Unfortunately, she's powerless - a teenager stuck at home with nothing but a Greek chorus that just won't go away. She will need to band together with her long-lost brother Orestes, their dim-witted sister Chrysothemis, their trusted friend Pylades and a torrent of raging hormones to set her plot for revenge in motion. But will vengeance lead to happiness? And why does puberty have to be so tragic?

This Greek play's original title is somewhat deceiving. Electra appears to be about a central female character affecting all action of the play. However, she spends the entire time waiting for a man to show up on his proverbiAl White horse and make things happen. This story has always been about the one true heir Orestes; the conquering hero, returning home to save the day. All Electra can do is wait and lament... and then lament some more. But what if the story really belonged to Electra? What if she grew to believe in her own power and gained the strength to fight back on her own terms? This over the top, hilarious production answers those questions for you and throws in the grungy sounds of Nirvana, Bush and Greenday for good measure. Come and see Electra exact her own revenge for yourself!

Irene Ryan Award nominee Dani Cervone (Electra) leads the standout ensemble, which also features Elizabeth Bove, Carley Colbert, Jan Di Pietro (Far Out! at Minetta Lane Theatre), Marci Koltonuk (Dance Dance Revolution at The Ohio Theatre), Meg Lanzarone, Kevin Mitchell, Michael Alan Read, Matt Rini and Tom Slot (Jesus Freaks at Manhattan Repertory).

Creative team includes: Laura Hirschberg (Assistant Director/Stage Manager), Erin Winebark (Assistant Stage Manager), Zane Enloe (Scenic Designer), David Monroy (Lighting Designer) and David Moyer (Costume Designer).

About the Playwright/Director Aliza Shane...

The 2008 New York Innovative Theatre Award winner for her Outstanding Short Script The Three Sillies, which she also directed, Ms. Shane most recently wrote and directed The Spanish Wives: A Groovy Tale of Peace, Love, and Restoration at the Looking Glass. She has directed four new works at Looking Glass as part of the Writer/Director Forum, including original adaptations of the works of Moliere, garnering multiple Forum Awards for her productions. Ms. Shane also currently serves as the Looking Glass Forum Producer. She has worked as a director, playwright, assistant director, stage manager and singer in many venues around NYC. In August 2009, she received the Planet Connections Theatre Festivity Award for Outstanding Overall Production of a Revival/Adaptation for writing, directing and producing The Imaginary Invalid: By Prescription Only. She was also nominated for Best Direction for the production. Ms. Shane also co-directed The Bacchae (Cypreco Theatre Co.), which was performed at the Cyprus Consulate and the HBO Summer Stage. She earned a BA in Theatre from Queens College. www.alizashane.com

About The Looking Glass Theatre...

The Looking Glass Theatre's mission is to theatrically and truthfully reflect a female vision on the stage. We fulfill this by presenting female directors' visions of classics and by staging new plays either written or directed by women. The New York Times called our Fall 2008 production of Adventures of the Puppet Princess "charming" and "a substantial introduction to the culture of Bali." In June 2006, The Looking Glass Theatre and Artistic Director Justine Lambert received The Lucille Lortel Award from The League of Professional Theatre Women.

ARE YOU THERE, ZEUS? IT'S ME, ELECTRA.
Roy Arias Studios & Theatres at The Times Square Arts Center
November 13 - 22, 2009
SCHEDULE: Friday-Saturday @ 8pm, Sunday @ 7pm
TICKET PRICE: $15 General Admission
ADDRESS: 300 West 43rd Street, 5th Floor
RESERVATIONS/INFO: (212) 352-3101 or visit www.lookingglasstheatrenyc.com