The New Collectives Opens THE TROJAN WOMEN Tonight

In the days following the Trojan War, how do the women find the will to survive as they await their fate at the hands of the conquering Greeks? A story of women's strength, hope, and community as their lives are uprooted.

This modern translation of an ancient play by Irish poet Brendan Kennelly, provides a lens through which to view the issues facing refugee women in today's world.

Each Thursday, post-show forums will be held with individuals working in/with the refugee and immigrant communities. The goal is to raise awareness about women refugees in our modern political climate at the local, national, and international level and to create an opportunity for the arts to intersect with activism.

As the final production of The New Collectives' 2017 season, The Trojan Women continues the season mission of giving back both artistically and financially. Donations will be collected for UNHCR - The UN Refugee Agency and Bond Street Theatre at the show through the sale of pins featuring text from the play.

The show is directed by Rachel Dart and features Joie Bauer* as Menelaus/Poseidon, Ashley Burroughs* as Helen, Julia Greer as Chorus, Erika Grob as Cassandra, Marcie Henderson* as Hecuba, Sam Leichter* as Talthybius, Cerridwyn McCaffrey as Chorus, Giverny Petitmermet as Andromache, Portia Lee Rose as Athena/Chorus, Anna Savant as Chorus, and Alejandra Venancio as Chorus.

The Trojan Women opens tonight, November 2nd, with a preview November 1st, and runs through November 18th, Wednesdays to Saturdays. All shows start at 8pm at The Balcony Theater at The Center at West Park (165 W 86th Street, NY, NY 10024). All tickets are $20 and are available online or at the door.

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM:

Directed by Rachel Dart; Dramaturgy by Taylor Beidler; Stage Managed by Melissa Farinelli*; Music by Elizabeth May; Movement by Keri Setaro; Assistant Directed by Alexandra Guhde; Costume Design by Maggie McGrann; Lighting Design by Valerie Insardi; Sound Design by Robert A.K. Gonyo; Set/Prop Design by Dan Morrison

Rachel Dart (Director) Directing credits include EST/Sloan, EST/Youngblood, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Culture Project, #serials at The Flea, York Theatre, the Frigid Festival, The 52nd Street Project, and The Atlantic Alumni Workshop and Acting School. Assisting includes The Vineyard, BAM, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Roundabout Theatre Company, The Acting Company, Geva, and Manhattan Theatre Club (Jonathan Alper Directing Fellow). Rachel is a proud alumna of The Actors Theatre of Louisville Professional Training Company. BFA, Tisch School of the Arts at NYU. www.racheldart.com

The New Collectives (Producer) is a New York based theatre & film collective. The company took shape in February 2014 while working on The Witches, a four person adaptation of Macbeth. After a successful workshop production in August 2014, Giverny Petitmermet, Dan Morrison, Sarah Moore and Mara Gannon decided to make their collaboration official & The New Collectives was formed in January 2015. Our mission is to create new, intimate & innovative works drawing inspiration from classic plays, develop contemporary work, & cultivate an environment for educational growth with ourselves and the local community. In July 2015, The New Collectives ran a successful week long Shakespeare summer camp in Brooklyn, forming our education branch, The Young Collectives. Helmed by Education & Outreach Director, Erin Maxon, & Assistant Education & Outreach Director, Sam Leichter, The Young Collectives has expanded its education programing to include professional development workshops, in-school workshops & holiday Shakespeare camps, in addition to our Shakespeare summer camps. In October 2015, The New Collectives, in association with Wandering BArk Theatre Company, produced a full production of The Witches, at The Access Theatre in NYC. In August 2016, The New Collectives brought the world premiere of Sam Gooley's Steve Got Raped. to the New York International Fringe Festival. Our 2017 season has included Buyer's Remorse, a one woman show by company member Mara Gannon, produced at the FRIGID Festival and The Occasion of Existence, an original dance theatre piece based on the book Einstein's Dreams. The New Collectives will be producing a new play by Bryn Manion and developing Dan Morrison's contemporary adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream, Bottoms Up at IRT in March 2018 as part of their 3B Residency program. For more information, visit www.thenewcollectives.com.

*appearing courtesy of Actors' Equity Association
• Equity approved showcase • Theater is not wheelchair accessible •

Please Note: this play includes on stage violence, direct references to sexual violence, and references to the atrocities committed in war.