Zemi Dance Theatre Presents NOT A GIFT of NY International Fringe Festival

ZEMI DANCE THEATRE is proud to present NOT A GIFT as part of The New York International Fringe Festival - FringeNYC. Sandra Rivera also produces with Line Producer Peter Myette. Assistant Director is Dianna Garten & Victoria Preis Stage Manages.

Featured in the cast are Alana Barrett-Adkins, Kristina Bermudez, Ali Bill, Camber Carpenter, Rhonda Gibson, Christina Leonardi, Adriane Moreno, Erin Richardson & Precious Sipin.

NOT A GIFT joins Robert Kennedy on his campaign for the presidency in 1968, highlighting the vast inequities he encountered on that journey. Audiences will see how Kennedy's visceral embrace of those with little, fueled a confrontational challenge to those with much. While informed by key events of 1968, the vital core of NOT A GIFT is the political campaign as metaphor for self-realization. Robert Kennedy's identity crystallized in the ideal that to be engaged in social change, IS the United States. The play's cast of racially diverse female actors bridges the distance between memorial & manifesto.

HEATHER LANZA (Director) is NYC-based & focuses on new play development. Her pieces have premiered at The Davenport, The Kraine, NY Fringe, Theater for the New City, The Players Theatre, Bleecker Street Theatre, Emerging Artists Theatre, Berkshire Fringe & many others. In addition, Heather currently serves as the Director of Education for Waterwell's Drama Program at the Professional Performing Arts School.

PETER MYETTE (Playwright) wrote & directed the feature Wherever Two, which premiered at the Canadian International Film Festival & was screened at the Museum of the Moving Image.

ZEMI DANCE THEATRE (Producer) was formed by Sandra Rivera to explore the Latino diaspora through dance & theatre. Robert Kennedy's support for the work of Dolores Huerta & Cesar Chavez attracted her involvement in NOT A GIFT, including choreographing movement for certain scenes in the drama. A founding member of Ballet Hispanico, Sandra was later the director of Omega Dance Company & an artist-in-residence at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine. Her solo dance performances have been presented at El Museo del Barrio, the Caramoor International Music Festival, Naumburg Orchestral Concerts in Central Park, Abrons Art Center & Boston's Hatch Memorial Shell.

DATES & TIMES: Saturday October 13th - Noon, Monday October 15th - 7:00pm, Friday, October 19th - 9:15pm, Monday October 22nd - 9:15pm & Friday October 26th - 4:30pm

PLACE: Fringe HUB ~ 685 Washington St. (corner Charles St.) ~ NYC, NY 10014

PRICE: $22/Seniors $16

TICKETS: www.FringeNYC.org

***PLEASE NOTE - Audience members need to be at the HUB at least 15 MINUTES EARLY, or they will be considered late & will not be admitted! People who show up at the venue without being escorted from the HUB, will not be admitted.