RAFT OF THE MEDUSA Opens 9-week Stripped Fest at Cherry Lane Theatre

A revised version of Joe Pintauro's 1991 play RAFT OF THE MEDUSA, being produced Off-Broadway this fall by the Barefoot Theatre Company, will kick off the 9-week Stripped Festival this fall with performances October 6 to 22 at Cherry Lane Studio Theatre (38 Commerce St.) in Greenwich Village. RAFT OF THE MEDUSA will be followed in the Stripped Festival by performances of Israel Horovitz's new work GLOUCESTER BLUE and the premiere of Randall Colburn's play VERSE CHORUS VERSE about a mystery surrounding the death of Kurt Cobain.

RAFT OF THE MEDUSA previews October 6 with an official press opening set for October 8. The run concludes October 22.

First presented in 1991 to considerable acclaim, RAFT OF THE MEDUSA has been revised by Mr. Pintauro for this production. Drawing on the Theodore Gericault 19th century painting of people clinging to a raft following a shipwreck, Pintauro's play takes place 10 years into the AIDS epidemic, centering on a weekly gathering of people living with AIDS. Directed by Francisco Solorzano, the cast of RAFT OF THE MEDUSA features Jeremy Brena, John Gazzale, Charles Everett, Samantha Fontana, Mark G. Cisneros, Gil Ron, Maia Sage, Christopher Whalen, along with Michael Pierre Louis, Gillian Rougier and Andrew MacLarty.

Costume design is by Victoria Malvagno; lighting design by Niluka Hotaling; set design by Michael Mallard; sound design is by John Beverly; and graphic design is by ADZN, Adam Dalton.

Mr. Pintauro's numerous plays include SNOW ORCHID, MOVING TARGETS presented at Vineyard Theatre, BESIDE HERSELF, MEN'S LIVES, THE DEAD BOY and DODE JONGEN starring Roy Scheider and Mercedes Ruehl. He collaborated with Terrence McNally and Lanford Wilson on the trilogy BY THE SEA, BY THE SEA, THE BEAUTIFUL SEA produced at Bay Street Theatre and Manhattan Theatre Club. His HEAVEN AND EARTH about American farm life was directed by Jack Hofsiss at Bay Street. Francisco Solorzano has directed SAVAGE/LOVE for Looking Glass Theater, the world premiere of the stage adaptation of DOG DAY AFTERNOON, Israel Horovitz's BEIRUT ROCKS as well as Horovitz's 6 HOTELS. "Stripped" is billed as a festival of plays about "sex, murder, revenge...and sex." It is presented by Barefoot Theatre Company in association with East 3rd Productions.

Now in its 13th season, BAREFOOT THEATRE COMPANY's recent productions Off-Broadway include the premieres of EMERGENCY USED CANDLES, TEETH OF THE SONS, a stage adaptation of the film DOG DAY AFTERNOON, the 35th anniversary of Israel Horovitz's THE INDIAN WANTS THE BRONX, as well as the 70/70 HOROVITZ PROJECT, a yearlong worldwide festival that feature 70 of Horovitz's plays on the occasion of his 70th birthday. East 3rd Productions' theatrical works include Zack Calhoon's THE WEIRD SISTERS, Nilo Cruz's A BICYCLE COUNTRY, STRANGE SNOW by Stephen Metcalfe, 70/70 HOROVITZ PROJECT, and the ENTER PLAYWRIGHT THEATER FESTIVAL. The company has also produced the short film "Tapeworm," recipient of the best short film award at Gotham Screen International Film Festival.

RAFT OF THE MEDUSA will perform Tuesdays through Fridays at 7 p.m. and Saturdays at 3 and 7 p.m.
Tickets are $18; $15 for students/seniors. A pay-what-you-can night has been set for Oct. 11. For performance and ticket information, call 212 352 3101 or go online at www.ovationtix.com.