Mad & Merry Theatre Company's DAUGHTERS OF LEDA Begins Tonight

RT Presents The Mad & Merry Theatre Company's World Premiere of DAUGHTERS OF LEDA, a modern adaptation of greek mythology, written and directed by Madeline Sayet, previews begin tonight, December 11th at IRT. Opening night is slated for Saturday, December 13th. Mad & Merry will also present The Women's Histories play reading series Dec 14th, 15th, and 20th.

As the seasons change and Persephone returns to the underworld, a mortal girl arrives at the same time asking questions that turn history upside down. The Fates have a game up their sleeve - they are tired, they need a vacation. But in order to leave, they have to give the stories they exploited back. In a whirlwind of events, Adam & Eve, Leda & the Swan, Helen, Clytemnestra, Iphigenia, and Electra all come together to choose their own destinies and finally tell their side of the stories that have instilled fear of feminine knowledge for far too long.

This production was previously developed as part of the Women Center Stage Festival at the Culture Project, the Dream Up Festival at Theatre for the New City, and Dixon Place's Works-In-Progress.

The production stars: Lauren Annunziata, Alexandra Bailey, Andi Bohs, Claire Burke, Brett Hecksher, Michelle Honaker, Megan Lee, and Pamela Weingarden. The design and production staff includes You-Shin Chen (set), Lux Haac (costumes), Evan Roby (lighting), Emily Auciello (sound), and Jenn Jacobs (stage manager).

Alongside Daughters of Leda will be running The Women's Histories Festival. A new reading series of plays inspired by the theme of re-envisioning women's narratives. The series will begin with an evening of short work at 7 PM on Dec 14th, with plays by Tessa Flannery, Mary Parris, Dwayne Yancey, and Melissa Tantaquidgeon Zobel.

On Dec 15th at 7 PM there will be a reading of THE GREAT DIVIDE by Alix Sobler, directed by Kristin McCarthy Parker, and on Saturday Dec 20th at 2 PM there will be a reading of IN MY FATHER'S EYES by Mary Kathryn Nagle, directed by Madeline Sayet. All readings are free and open to the public but require reservations due to limited space.

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The Mad & Merry Theater Company is an ensemble based theatre collective that empowers underrepresented voices through fresh perspectives on traditional stories.

IRT Theater is a grassroots laboratory for independent theater and performance in New York City, providing space and support to a new generation of artists. Tucked away in the old Archive Building in Greenwich Village, IRT's mission is to build a community of emerging and established artists by creating a home for the development and presentation of new work. Some of the artists we have supported include Young Jean Lee, Reggie Watts, Mike Daisey, New York Live Arts, terraNOVA Collective, Immediate Medium, The Nonsense Company/Rick Burkhardt, CollaborationTown, Rady&Bloom,Thomas Bradshaw, Crystal Skillman,Tommy Smith, May Adrales, Katt Lissard, Erica Fay and many others. For info visit www.irttheater.org.

Madeline Sayet is the Artistic Director of the Mad & Merry Theatre Company, Resident Artistic Director of AMERINDA Inc., A Van Lier Directing Fellow at Second Stage Theatre, a National Arts Strategies' Creative Community Fellow, and a recipient of the White House Champion of Change Award. Her directing credits include: Powwow Highway (HERE), Sliver of a Full Moon (Joe's Pub), Miss Lead (59e59), Daughters of Leda (Dream Up Festival, Women Center Stage Festival), The Tempest (Brooklyn Lyceum). Upcoming: The Magic Flute (Glimmerglass).

DAUGHTERS OF LEDA runs December 11 - 21, Wednesday - Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 2pm. IRT is located at 154 Cristopher St., #3B. Tickets are $15, available at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/905885

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