the cell Extends PETER/WENDY Through June 29
the cell, A Twenty First Century Salon, Founding Artistic Director Nancy Manocherian, and Artistic Director Kira Simring, have announced the extension of the world premiere production of PETER/WENDY adapted and directed by Jeremy Bloom from J.M. Barrie's "Peter Pan and Wendy" and "The Little White Bird" and scored by the indie band, The Books. PETER/WENDY has been playing a limited engagement at the cell (338 W. 23rd St NYC). Performances began Thursday, May 30 and will now continue through Saturday, June 29. Opening Night was Saturday, June 1 (8 p.m.). Press are invited to all performances. Tickets are available at www.thecelltheatre.org.From the creative genius of writer/director Jeremy Bloom (Leaves of Grass at the cell), a protégé of Tony Award winning Mary Zimmerman (Metamorphoses & The White Snake), the familiar and beloved story of Peter Pan is re-imagined in an authentic and pure way, using the prose of J.M. Barrie, from his novels, "Peter Pan and Wendy" and "The Little White Bird". Bloom transforms the unique multi-level space of the cell into the world of Never-never land and Wendy's bedroom, adorning the walls with "happy thoughts" from the audience and the odd passerby. The pajama-clad performers move around the space in perfect sync, a choreography imparted on them by the careful hand of Bloom, and use the collected "happy thoughts" to make them fly. The lyrical words are loyal to the original text with a lightness that heightens the emotional content of a childhood loss, an expression both painful and heartfelt. The result is efficient and beautiful storytelling, which is without irony and at its core sophisticated and traditional.The production stars John McLaughlin (Hard Times at the cell) as Peter, Jessie Shelton (Lady Han) as Wendy, LaChrisha Brown (La Boheme (Spoken) at the cell) as Tinkerbell, Julia Steele Allen (My Gay Banjo) as Tiger Lilly, Evan Kuzma (Sisterhood of the Night) as A Lost Boy/Mermaid, Tim Eliot (Empirical Rouge) as Mr. Darling/Smee, and Brittany Bellizeare (Sunjata Kamalenya at The McCarter) as Mrs. Darling/Hook. Custom Made, currently co-producing a reading series at the cell, is proud to bring Mr. Bloom to the Bay Area for the West Coast Premiere in November 2013. Custom Made will mount Mark Eisman's "Sightlines" at the cell in September, a project that was presented last summer in "Studio, CMTC."The production features scenic design by Brian Rady and lighting design by Gertjan Houben. Keri Taylor is the assistant producer, Josh Kelley is the assistant director, and Mackenzie Meeks is the stage manager.PETER/WENDY plays the following regular schedule through Saturday, June 22: Thursdays at 8 p.m.; Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15-18 and are now available online at www.thecelltheatre.org or by calling 1-800-838-3006. Tickets may also be purchased in-person at the theater a ½ hour prior to performance. Running Time: 70 minutes. For more about the production, visit: http://www.thecelltheatre.org/peter-wendy-8pm-thursday-may-30-saturday-june-22-2013/ Jeremy Bloom is the artistic director of RADY&BLOOM Collective Playmaking, whose accolades include residencies at the Ice Factory Festival and the IRT Theater, and grants from the Manhattan Community Arts Fund (made possible by the New York State Department of Cultural Affairs). Favorite credits include LEAVES OF GRASS (NUDE) previously at the cell. Jeremy is a Drama League Directing Fellow, EST Resident Director, Soho Rep Lab Director, and participated in the TS Eliot US/UK Exchange at The Old Vic. Jeremy is Artistic Executive at Evenstar Films and an adjunct faculty member at Montclair State University Department of Theater. www.radyandbloom.com.Since its inception in 2006, the cell: A Twenty 1st Century Salon (Nancy Manocherian, Founding Director; Kira Simring, Artistic Director) has been, and continues to be, an incubator for creative projects. Through its strong commitment to cultivate undiscovered