WHO IS LILA CANTE? A Eulogy To Rock And Roll to Premiere 10/2

At Hand Theatre Company will premiere LILA CANTE, written by Mark Snyder and directed by Sara Sahin, at Chelsea's Ted Bardy Studio on October 2, 2009.

Who is Lila Cante? A reclusive singer-songwriter makes an album that rocks the world. Now, as the music industry implodes, two siblings battle over their mother's legacy and her twenty years of silence. Inspired by Yoko Ono's published letter to the court following her husbands' timely death, LILA CANTE is a glimpse into what happens when human emotion and the responsibilities of show business collide. 

LILA CANTE stars actors frequenting the boards Off-Broadway, on TV and the indie music scene: Danielle Di Vecchio* (TV: The Sopranos, Barbara Soprano, Prison Break; Off-Broadway: Second Stage, Playwrights Horizons, H.E.R.E., Studio Arena Theater; RADIO/LIVE: A Prairie Home Companion), Rebecca Hart* (indie folk rock singer/songwriter, Rebecca Hart & the Sexy Children, also performed with New Georges, Clubbed Thumb, Actors Theatre of Louisville), Matt Shofner (Rent, Japan Nat'l Tour) and Ryan Spahn* (LA Weekly Award & LA Drama Critics Circle Nomination for Stupid Kids, Celebration Theatre; Stage Scene LA Award, Act a Lady, Sacred Fools. Berkshire Theatre Festival, O'Neill Playwrights Conference) *denotes member of Actor's Equity Association

An original work by playwright Mark Snyder, LILA CANTE is a play a decade in the making. Mark Snyder's works have been produced or developed in Chicago, San Francisco, Portland and Minneapolis, including BEANBAG GAME and LILITH ON TODAY. Mr. Snyder produced and appeared in RED NIGHT LIGHTS at New York's The Slipper Room (Firecracker Productions). LILA CANTE is directed by Sara Sahin (Artistic Associate, At Hand; 2009 Lincoln Center Director's Lab, assisted Carl Andress, Joe Calarco and Julianne Boyd).

LILA CANTE premieres Friday, October 2nd at 8pm and continues Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays at 8pm from October 2nd-18th. Tickets are $18 and are available by calling SmartTix at 212.868.4444 or by visiting www.athandtheatre.com. The Ted Bardy Studio is located at 153 W. 27th Street, Suite 301 (between 6th and 7th Avenues) in Manhattan.

At Hand Theatre Company (Daniel Horrigan, Artistic Director) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit theatre company formed two years ago to produce new plays in greener ways. At Hand uses environmentally conscious means and limited materials to avoid the impact that theatre can leave on our carbon footprint. Rather than building an entire set and creating several elaborate costumes for each production, At Hand explores simple, creative solutions that are cost effective, eco-friendly and engage the imagination of the audience.

At Hand gives both emerging and established playwrights the chance to find their voices without having to be concerned with production values. Through a rigorous artistic process At Hand brings directors, designers, and actors together to work collaboratively with playwrights on original texts - helping them shape the script, discuss relevant themes, negotiate the language of the play, and focus the storytelling.

Past productions include John Patrick Bray's TRICKSTER AT THE GATE, the World Premiere of Andrea Lepcio's ONE NATION UNDER, Brian Dykstra's SILENCE! and CAKE AND PLAYS...BUT WITHOUT THE CAKE by Jono Hustis. In addition, At Hand also produces a Staged Reading Series of new plays, which have included works by Anton Dudley, Greg Turner, John Patrick Bray, S.W. Senek, Jono Hustis, and Mark's Snyder's LILA CANTE. At Hand's Annual Spring Benefit, POP! is steadily becoming a New York institution, in and of itself. Each year over 35 artists participate in creating an evening that revolves around pop culture themes.

For more information, please visit www.athandtheatre.com