Asa Merritt's 'TRUE BELIEVER' to Open 4/17 at Theaterlab

Theaterlab presents True Believer, a new play about identity, radicalism, and the passion of youth by Asa Merritt. Joshua Kahan Brody directs Kersti Bryan* in a solo performance with original live music by Bay Bryan. Thirteen performances will be staged at Theaterlab, 357 West 36th Street, 3rd Floor in NYC from April 17-May 9, 2015.

A young journalist returns from the Arab Spring hungry to build a more just society at home. Yet after she fails to publish her writing and can no longer relate to her apathetic peers, despondency sets in. Insomnia--a domestic terrorist group--reverses that. By recruiting her to write their manifestos they give her the agency she craves. Soon she is embroiled in an attack against her own country. As Insomnia moves closer and closer to taking action, a romance with another woman in the group, and a powerful conscience, threaten her commitment to the cause. Which will win out--her passion for people or her passion for justice?

Theaterlab Artistic Director Orietta Crispino stated, "True Believer is a raw and poetic piece about the search for meaning in our modern age. This powerful play about radicalism unfolds beautifully in the intimate studio setting at Theaterlab, offering audiences a chance to be held captive by the mesmerizing work of Kersti Bryan, Asa Merritt and Joshua K. Brody."

True Believer is being developed at Theaterlab. True Believer plays for 13 performances from April 17-May 9, 2015. Performances are Fridays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays at 8 p.m. & 10 p.m. There will be a special industry performance on Sunday, April 26, 2015 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15. They can be purchased by visiting OvationTix.com or by calling 212-352-3101. The runtime is 60 minutes with no intermission.

BIOGRAPHIES:

Joshua Kahan Brody (director) is a director, actor, and producer based in San Diego and New York. He has been a guest director at UC - San Diego (The Sign In Sidney Brustein's Window) where he also received his MFA in directing. His work there included Titus Andronicus and The Dybbuk and the first workshop productions of Lauren Yee's A Man, His Wife, and His Hat (now titled The Hatmaker's Wife) and Jeff Augustin's Little Children Dream of God. He won the award for Excellence in Directing at the 2011 NY Fringe Festival for Fourteen Flights. As an actor, he originated the role of 'Boy' in the world premiere of Neil LaBute's The Distance from Hereat the Almeida Theatre, London, and he appeared in the films Chasing Liberty and Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London. As an assistant director, he worked on the world premiere of Ayad Akhtar's The Who and The What and its subsequent production at LCT3. A dual US-UK citizen, he received his BA from Yale University and now splits his time between New York and San Diego where he is a lecturer in undergraduate acting and directing at UCSD. Most recently, he directed a site-specific evening of new works entitled 3 PLAYS IN A TATTOO SHOP for the theater company of which he is a co-founder, THE TRIP. www.joshuakbrody.com & www.thetriptheater.net

Asa Merritt (playwright) is the first writer in a family of soldiers and cowboys. Notable projects include: plays staged at LaMama, the Cherry Pit, and Center Stage; "Night on the Lam," a short film, which premiered at the Macon Film Festival; and First Blood, an anthology of pre-1900 vampire literature published by Phoenix Press. Asa is a student at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism.

Kersti Bryan* (performer) All's Well That Ends Well (Commonwealth Shakespeare - Nominated Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding Actress); Riverside Drive (Moscow Art Theatre *TCG Award) Pride & Prejudice, Misanthrope (Shakespeare Theatre of New NJ); Romeo & Juliet, As You Like It (Oregon Shakespeare Festival); All My Sons (Palm Beach Dramaworks - Carbonell Award) New York: Mr. Bengt's Wife (August Strindberg Rep). The Seagull, The Rover (New York Classical Theatre). As You Like It (Player's Club); The Box Man (Dixon Place/SITI Company); Drowning Girls (Theatre Row) TV/WEB: "The Knick," "Elementary;" "Golden Boy;" "Drop Dead Diva;" "Law & Order;" "Small Miracles;" DFuze TV's "Chamomile Honeywell;" Film: "Hell's Heart", "Actor Seeks Role", "Carla and Charlie" and others. Carnegie-Mellon University. www.kerstibryan.com

Bay Bryan (original music) is a singer songwriter and actor based here in Manhattan and he's truly honored to be working on this piece alongside such incredible artists. He's composed music for two animations by Heather Collins, both produced by Matt Groening of the Simpsons. He performs his original music, a fusion of folk and soul, all around Manhattan in such notable venues like Rockwood Music Hall, The Bitter End & Pianos. As an actor he recently played the role of Sean in Show Choir! the Musical's Cast Recording and Melchior in Spring Awakening under the Direction of Jenna Worsham. Bay trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow, UK. You can find his music and more on his website: www.baybryan.com

Theaterlab is an artistic laboratory dedicated to research into the nature of live performance. Through the development of new and experimental work including theater, music, and visual art. Theaterlab supports New York City's diverse community of artists as well as the general public interested in seeing emerging new work. Theaterlab also focuses on audience development as a creative project. We regard the theatrical experience as a creative public assembly with the audience as an important partner in fulfilling our mission. In addition to producing and presenting new work, Theaterlab provides affordable space for rehearsal and project development, including resident and affiliate artists programs.

*Performing with special permission of Actors' Equity Association.

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