Ma-Yi Theater Company Presents MICROCRISIS 10/5 At HERE Arts Center

MICROCRISIS - a new play by Michael Lew - will be given its world-premiere production by Ma-Yi Theater Company, starting previews Off-Broadway on September 28 prior to its official opening night on October 5 at the HERE Arts Center (145 Avenue of the Americas) in New York City.

Directed by Ralph Pena, MICROCRISIS is dark comedy about what happens when a shady investment banker exploits 'microcredit' - the Nobel Prize-winning practice of providing small loans to Third World businesses to alleviate poverty and spur social change - and ravages the global economy in the process, with surprisingly hilarious results.

Directed by Ralph Peña, the cast of MICROCRISIS features William Jackson Harper ("Ruined" at MTC, "Children of Vonderly" at Ma-Yi, "A Cool Dip" at Playwright Horizons), Jackie Chung ("Children of Vonderly" by Lloyd Suh), David Gelles ("Graceland" at LCT), Lauren Hines ("Al's Business Cards" on Theater Row), Alfredo Narciso ("Drunken City" at Playwrights Horizons, "The Misanthrope" at NYTW), and Socorro Santiago ("The Bacchae" at Circle in the Square).

Set design for MICROCRISIS is by Clint Ramos; lighting design by Japhy Weideman; costumes by Theresa Squire and sound by Shane Rettig.

Michael Lew is the author of the plays STOCKTON, A BETTER BABYLON and NEANDERTHAL LOVE, presented variously at Ensemble Studio Theatre and Victory Gardens Theatre. He is a three-time finalist for the Heideman Award at Actors Theatre of Louisville.

Mr. Lew is a member of Ma-Yi Theatre's celebrated playwriting program Writer's Lab, now in its sixth year. Begun by playwrights Lloyd Suh and Sung Rno, the Writer's Lab serves a dual purpose, providing as it does opportunities for the new generation of Asian American artists to write about their experiences, and also providing Ma-Yi Theater with a steady stream of quality new, 'homegrown' works for the company's repertory. MICROCRISIS is the fifth play to graduate from the Writer's Lab to a fully-staged Off-Broadway production, following Lloyd Suh's "The Children of Vonderly," Qui Nguyen's "Soul Samurai," "American Hwangap" by Mr. Lloyd, and last season's "Rescue Me" by Michi Barall. Later this season, Ma-Yi will present another Writer's Lab play, "I _ NY" by Ralph Pena, demonstrating the strength and growth of the Lab as the spawning ground for the company's repertory.

Ralph B. Peña has served as Ma-Yi Theater's Artistic Director since 1995. He is author of the plays FLIPZOIDS and PROJECT: BALANGIGA. Recent directing credits include the workshop production of Michael Lew's MICROCRISIS for EST/Youngblood, the world premiere of THE CHILDREN OF VONDERLY by Lloyd Suh, SAVAGE ACTS and DEAD MAN'S SOCKS for Ma-Yi Theater.

Scheduled through October 23, MICROCRISIS will perform Tuesday through Saturday at 8:30PM, Saturday at 4PM with additional performances on Monday October 4 at 8:30PM and Sunday October 17 at 4PM. Tickets are $20-$25 and can be reserved online at www.here.org or by calling 212-352-3101.

This production is being presented through HEREstay, HERE's curated rental program, which provides artists with subsidized space and equipment, as well as technical and administrative support.

About MA-YI

Founded in 1989 and now in its 22nd season, Ma-Yi Theater Company is a the Drama Desk and Obie Award-winning, Off-Broadway not-for-profit organization whose primary mission is to develop new plays and performance works that depict Asian American experiences. Its numerous acclaimed productions include last season's hit production of RESCUE ME by Michi Barall, Lloyd Suh's AMERICAN HWANGAP, SOUL SAMURAI, THE ROMANCE OF MAGNO RUBIO, THE CHILDREN OF VONDERLY and wAve. Through successful programs such as the Writers Lab, Ma-Yi emboldens a new generation of Asian American artists to voice their experiences, while developing a steady stream of quality new works by Asian American Playwrights for its own performing repertory. Ma-Yi Theater Company productions have earned nine Obie Awards, numerous Henry Hewes Award nominations, a Drama Desk nomination and the Special Drama Desk Award for more than two decades of excellence and for nurturing Asian-American voices in stylistically varied and engaging theater. www.ma-yitheatre.org

About HERE Arts Center

Since 1993, the OBIE-winning HERE has been a premier arts organization in NYC and a leader in the field of new, hybrid performance work. Under leadership of Founding Artistic Director Kristin Marting and Producing Director Kim Whitener, HERE has served over 12,000 emerging to mid-career artists developing work that does not fit a conventional programming agenda. Work presented at HERE has garnered 14 OBIE awards, including the 2009 Ross Wetzsteon Award, an OBIE grant for artistic achievement, three Drama Desk nominations, two Berrilla Kerr Awards, three NY Innovative Theatre Awards, an Edwin Booth Award and a Pulitzer Prize nomination. HERE proudly supports artists at all stages in their careers through full productions, artist residency programs, festivals and subsidized performance and rehearsal space. Work at HERE is curated based on the strength and uniqueness of the artist's vision. HERE's Artist Residency Program (HARP) provides development, commissions and full production for up to 20 artists over one-to-three years. In 2005, with the support of the FJC, a foundation of donor advised funds, Lower Manhattan Development Corporation and the City of New York, HERE purchased its long-time home as part of a five-year "Secure HERE's Future" campaign. With full-scale renovations to the space concluding in June 2008, thanks to generous support from the City of New York, HERE is poised to continue and expand its role as a downtown haven for the finest emerging artists.