Riverside Theatre Presents Updated EMERGENCE-SEE, 8/5-8

The Riverside Theatre, Voza Rivers/New Heritage Theatre and Walk Tall Girl Productions will present Obie Award-winner Daniel Beaty in EMERGENCY, an updated version of his critically acclaimed solo play EMERGENCE-SEE! Once again directed by Charles Randolph-Wright, EMERGENCY will have a limited engagement of only four performances, Thursday, August 5 - Saturday, August 7 at 8:00 p.m.; and Sunday, August 8 at 3:00 p.m. at The Riverside Theatre, 91 Claremont Avenue. Tickets for all performances are $20 and can be purchased online at www.theriversidetheatre.org, by phone at 212.870.6784 or in person at the Theater box office (Thursday-Saturday 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.; Sunday, noon - 4:00 p.m.).

Beaty won a 2007 Obie Award in the writing and performance category for his critically-acclaimed solo play EMERGENCE-SEE!, which had a sold-out run at The Public Theater during the 2006-07 seasons.

The core story of EMERGENCY is the same as its predecessor - a slave ship rises out of the Hudson River in front of the Statue of Liberty, sending NYC into a frenzy. During the performance, Daniel Beaty masterfully assumes forty diverse personalities as they collide in an intricately woven, urgent and witty exploration of our shared humanity and what it means to be free. However, this update also features new characters and revised a storyline in terms of commentary on current events to reflect that the story is taking place in 2010. For example, there are references to President Obama and other current figures and events.

Located at the historic Riverside Church, The Riverside Theatre, in this 50th year Anniversary, is celebrating an outstanding legacy of rich arts programming, honoring its past and those artists that have brought engaging, powerful, inspiring work to our stage. With a vision of the arts as a unifying force that strengthens communities, the 50th Anniversary theme, From Legacy to Promise recognizes the foundation laid and aspires to be instrumental in shaping the new voices of captivating dance, theatre and film.

Voza Rivers/New Heritage Theatre Group is celebrating their 46th anniversary as the oldest black not for profit theatre in New York City. The Theatre is pleased to join with Riverside Theatre celebrating its 50th Anniversary in presenting the work of the distinguished actor Daniel Beaty. One extraordinary performer portraying forty characters in a tour de force performance not to be missed is a gift to the community. New Heritage is pleased to be a part of the producing team. New Heritage is headed by Grammy nominated and Audelco award winning Executive Producer Voza Rivers and Oscar and Grammy nominated Executive Artistic Director Jamal Joseph, Chair of the Graduate Film Program at Columbia University.

Founded in 2000 by Marcia Pendelton, Walk Talk Girl Productions is a marketing, audience development and group sales company. Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, WTGP seeks to find the widest possible audience for the arts and is pleased to continue its association with Daniel Beaty. www.walktallgirlproductions.com for more information.

For more information about EMERGENCY, visit www.theriversidetheatre.org or call the Theatre at 212.870.6784.

Daniel Beaty (Playwright/performer) is an award winning actor, singer, writer, and composer. His critically acclaimed solo play EMERGENCE-SEE! directed by Kenny Leon, ran off-Broadway to a sold-out, extended run at The Public Theater in the fall of 2006. For this production, he received the 2007 Obie Award for Excellence in Off-Broadway Theater for Writing & Performing and the 2007 AUDELCO Award for Solo Performance. He is the recipient of the 2007 Scotsman Fringe First Award for the best new writer at the Edinburgh Festival and was presented with a Lamplighter Award from the Black Leadership Forum in Washington D.C. In the spring of 2008, Emergence-See!, now re-titled Emergency had a sold-out seven-week engagement at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles directed by Charles Randolph-Wright and was awarded two 2009 NAACP Theater Awards including Best Actor. Daniel has worked throughout the U.S., Europe, and Africa performing on programs with artists such as Ruby Dee, Ossie Davis, Jill Scott, Sonia Sanchez, MC Lyte, Mos Def, Tracy Chapman, Deepak Chopra, and Phylicia Rashad. He holds a BA with Honors in English & Music from Yale University and an MFA in Acting from The American Conservatory Theatre (ACT). His ensemble play Resurrection received its world premiere production at Arena Stage in Washington D.C. in August 2008 (where he was awarded the 2008 Edgerton Foundation's new American Play Award); followed by engagements at Hartford Stage, the Philadelphia Theatre Company, and ETA Theater in Chicago. www.danielbeaty.com.

Charles Randolph-Wright (Director) recently directed a new version of the musical SOPHISTICATED LADIES (currently running at Arena Stage starring Maurice Hines) and the 75th anniversary tour of PORGY AND BESS (currently on tour). Other theatre directing credits include THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG (in Portuguese) in Brazil, LOVE LIFE (with Brian Stokes Mitchell) Lincoln Center, GUYS AND DOLLS (50th anniversary tour), BLOOD KNOT (with music by Tracy Chapman at ACT), THE DIVA IS DISMISSED (with Jenifer Lewis) New York Shakespeare Festival, the world premieres of SENOR DISCRETION HIMSELF (Arena Stage), TOUGH TITTY (Williamstown), and ME AND Mrs. Jones (Prince Theatre). Charles's writing credits include BLUE (starring Phylicia Rashad) Roundabout, CUTTIN' UP (ALLIANCE THEATRE), THE NIGHT IS A CHILD (starring JoBeth Williams) Pasadena Playhouse, and he co-wrote JUST BETWEEN FRIENDS (Bea Arthur) on Broadway. Charles wrote and directed the upcoming film MAMA I WANT TO SING and directed the award-winning film PREACHING TO THE CHOIR as well as writing films for Fox, Disney, HBO, and Showtime. TV directing credits include LINCOLN HEIGHTS, SOUTH OF NOWHERE, and the Nike Freestyle Soccer campaign starring Ronaldinho. He also produced and wrote Showtime's critically acclaimed series LINC'S. www.Randolph-Wright.com.

Beaty's THROUGH THE NIGHT recently completed its World Premiere as a co-production with Crossroads Theatre (New Brunswick, NJ) and the Geffen Playhouse (Los Angeles, CA); and this past May completed its New York Premiere as a co-production with The Riverside Theatre, New Heritage Theatre and Walk Tall Girl Productions.