Camille Saviola Makes NYC Directorial Debut with VEILS, Now thru 8/5

The iStar Theatre Lab's Producing Artistic Director Tony Spinosa and managing director Laura Bultman, previously announced announced that award-winning actress Camille Saviola would direct VEILS, the Arab Spring drama by Tom Coash, as part of their inaugural season scheduled to take place tonight, July 16th through August 5th in New York City. This will mark Ms. Saviola's NYC directorial debut.

Saviola's innumerable stage, screen and television credits include the Tony Award-winning musical NINE, CHICAGO, and RAGTIME  and is known for her television work as Turtle's mom on HBO's ENTOURAGE and in STAR TREK DEEP SPACE NINE. "I just moved back to my beloved city of New York and I'm thrilled to be directing Veils" said Saviola, a play she describes as "having its finger on the pulse of the women's movement across the globe." She adds, "Its subject is incredibly timely. Women are 50% of the world's population and deserve 100% of their rights and freedoms."

VEILS, which will feature the talents of Shyko Amos (National Theatre London) and Liz Malarkey (Actors Theatre of Louisville), is the story of Intisar, a veiled African-American Muslim student and her non-veiled Egyptian roommate, Samar, who enlists her help in creating an internet blog debating the controversial practice of wearing veils. The Arab Spring intervenes, however, and the Egyptian revolution threatens to overtake the young women and their project. In the violent struggle, Intisar and Samar find themselves on opposite sides of a bitter and dangerous cultural divide.

The iStar Theatre Lab is the brainchild of director/choreographer Tony Spinosa, who recently served as resident director of the 2010 Tony Award-winning revival of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES on Broadway and two-time Cringe Festival winner for his work on CHARLLIE CHANG AND THE MYSTERIOUS SALAMI 2008) and IS THAT A SPEAR IN YOUR POCKET? (2009). Spinosa commented, "I was truly moved by Tom Coash's writing and the distinctive voice of VEILS, a deep exploration of the misunderstandings of cultural differences."

The 2012 iStar Theatre Lab in New York City will also include GAY BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, a new musical by Billy Butler and Dane Leeman.

iStar Theatre Lab
The iStar Theatre Lab is a three-week workshop designed to provide mentorship and guidance in a risk-free environment for emerging or established artists who wish to develop and nurture their work. Artists who participate in the iStar Theater Lab benefit from a day-on day-off rehearsal structure which allows each participant to nurture ideas and explore his or her own work without the pressure of producing new pages every day. After three weeks of intensive work, each project is presented to the iStar Theatre Lab community in a closed session. The presentation is followed by a feedback session led by the iStar Theatre Lab's Producing Artistic Director and creative team.

iStar Theatre Lab is a nonprofit organization founded by Tony Spinosa in 2012. Through its program, the iStar Theatre Lab provides playwrights, directors, composers, and librettists with a safe creative space in which to cultivate their work. The Lab supports its writers by providing directors, choreographers, full casts, stage management, and other professionals who can encourage, support and enrich the projects. www.istartheatrelab.org