Photo Flash: Palace Of The End

Epic Theatre Ensemble presents the New York Premiere of PALACE OF THE END, a new drama by Judith Thompson.  With direction by Daniella Topol.  the three-person cast features Teri Lamm, Heather Raffo  and Rocco Sisto.  Performances began June 11, 2008 for a limited engagement through July 13, 2008 at Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Playwrights Horizons (416 West 42nd Street).  Opening Night is Monday, June 23, 2008 as part of Epic's current 2007-8 Season.

PALACE OF THE END is an incendiary and haunting triptych of monologues that intimately explores the experiences of three key figures of the Middle East crisis: Lynndie England (Lamm), the U.S. soldier who was convicted of abusing detainees at Baghdad's Alu Gharib prison; David Kelly (Sisto), the British weapons inspector who allegedly committed suicide after being involved in a government scandal and Nehrjas Al Saffarh (Raffo), a member of the Communist Party of Iraq who suffered under Saddham Hussein's regime and died when the Americans bombed her home during the initial Gulf War.

Commissioned and developed by Epic Theatre Ensemble, Palace of the End caps a distinguished 30-year career for the Canadian playwright.  Ms. Thompson is the recipient of the prestigious 2008 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize for playwriting, in addition to a recent 2008 Dora Mavor Award Nomination for Best Play in Canada where the drama received its world premiere.

Scenic Design is by Mimi Lien, Lighting Design is by Justin Townsend, Costume Design is by Theresa Squire, Sound Design is by Ron Russell, Projection Design is by Leah Gelpe and Original Music is by Katie Down.

PALACE OF THE END is based on the monologue play, My Pyramids by Judith Thompson, first read at the Toronto political cabaret, The Wrecking Ball. The premiere production was subsequently produced by Volcano at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh in August, 2005. The play was further developed with the Canadian Stage Company in Toronto where it received its Canadian Premiere in February, 2008.

Tickets are priced at $50.00 and available by calling TicketCentral at 212- 279-4200 or online at www.ticketcentral.com.  

Winner of OBIE, Lucille Lortel and OTTO Awards, Epic Theatre Ensemble was founded in 2001 by Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Teri Lamm, Ron Russell and James Wallert.  Additional Producing Artists are Godfrey L. Simmons Jr. and Sarah Winkler.  Epic's past productions include Nilaja Sun's No Child..., which Epic commissioned, developed and premiered before its commercial transfer and current national tour, as well as premieres of A Hard Heart by Howard Barker (featuring Kathleen Chalfant), Beauty on the Vine by Zak Berkman (featuring Epic Associates David Strathairn and Olivia Wilde), Hannah and Martin by Kate Fodor (featuring David Strathairn), Einstein's Gift by Vern Thiessen (featuring Aasif Mandvi and Shawn Elliott), Habitat by Judith Thompson and revivals of GB Shaw's Widowers' Houses (with Peter Jay Fernandez), Little Eyolf by Henrik Ibsen and Time and the Conways by J.B. Priestley.  

For more information visit www.epictheatreensemble.org.

Rocco Sisto

Heather Raffo

Teri Lamm

Teri Lamm, Rocco Sisto, and Heather Raffo

Teri Lamm, Rocco Sisto, and Heather Raffo

Heather Raffo

Photos by Carol Rosegg.