Berry & Madden Join Steve Swift For SISTER MYOTIS'S BIBLE CAMP Closes 7/4

Abingdon Theatre Company presents the New York premiere of SISTER MYOTIS'S BIBLE CAMP -- a new play written by and starring Steve Swift about three Southern ladies on a mission to save souls -- in previews beginning June 11, prior to its official press opening June 20 at Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex's Dorothy Strelsin Theatre (312 West 36th Street) in Manhattan. Jerre Dye to direct.

Being the head deaconess of an 80,000-member mega-church is not without its challenges. In SISTER MYOTIS'S BIBLE CAMP, the faithful flocks need tending. And for the faithless, well, let's just say there's hope. Sister Myotis, Ima Lone, and Velma Needlemeyer will be in attendance to host the annual Women's Church Retreat in hopes of giving backsliders, whoremongers, and the "chronically mediocre" a second chance at salvation.

Steve Swift stars as Sister Myotis, whose sermon on thongs and "good Christian panties" has become a YouTube sensation, with over 2,600,000 viewers. Joining Mr. Swift are Todd Berry as Velma Needlemeyer and Jenny Odle Madden as Ima Lone.

SISTER MYOTIS'S BIBLE CAMP features set design by Jerre Dye; costume design by Ashley Whitten Kopera and Kim Yeager, with Kathy Farris; and sound design by David Newsome.

Memphis-based actor and playwright Steve Swift received a Memphis Theatre Award for Outstanding Performance for his roles in THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR, FLOODWATCH, and TRANSLATIONS. Regionally, he was recently seen in Playhouse on the Square's production of AMADEUS and in Voices of the South's PLACE OF ENCHANTMENT. Since joining Voices of the South in 1999, he has become recognizable to schoolchildren across Memphis for his role as Mother Duck in Voices of the South's Southern version of THE UGLY DUCKLING. He is an alumnus of the University of Memphis.

Director Jerre Dye is also a writer, performer, designer, and teacher whose primary artistic focus is the creation and facilitation of new theatrical work. He is the artistic director of Voices of the South, a theatre ensemble specializing in adaptations of literature, original work, and theater for children. His direction of ONE OR TWO THINGS, with movement artist Emily Fox, was honored as "Best of the Fringe" at the San Francisco Fringe Festival. He is an aesthetic education trained teacher, who teaches classes in direction, puppetry, physical theater and script devising.

Since 1993, Abingdon Theatre Company has developed and produced new plays by American Playwrights exclusively. Our actors, directors, designers, producers and dramaturgs have collaborated with more than 200 playwrights to develop original plays. Under the guidance of
Artistic Director Jan Buttram and Managing Director Sam Bellinger, the company provides a safe home in which playwrights collaborate with other theatre artists and receive audience feedback through the utilization of a four-step development process: Page 2 Stage, Staged Readings, and Workout Labs, which culminate in Studio and Mainstage Productions.

Abingdon Theatre Company opened its current season last October with Robert Cary and Benjamin Feldman's INVENTING AVI, directed by Mark Waldrop. In January, the company presented the world premiere of PHANTOM KILLER, by playwright and Abingdon Artistic Director Jan Buttram, directed by Jules Ochoa. Most recently, Abingdon Theatre Company presented the sold-out, critically acclaimed New York premiere of John Morogiello's ENGAGING SHAW, directed by Jackob G. Hoffman.

SISTER MYOTIS'S BIBLE CAMP is an Equity Approved Showcase.

SISTER MYOTIS'S BIBLE CAMP runs June 11 though July 4 at Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex's Dorothy Strelsin Theatre (312 West 36th Street): Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:00pm; Fridays at 8:00pm; Saturdays at 2:00pm and 8:00pm; and Sundays at 2:00pm (with the following exception: special opening night performance, Sunday, June 20 at 5:00pm; no 2:00pm that day). Tickets are $25; www.abingdontheatre.org or 212-868-2055.

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