Discover The Woman Behind The Face That Launched A Thousand Ships with ReVamp Collective

Philadelphia audiences are invited to experience the world premiere of The Helen Project, written by ReVamp Collective's resident playwright, Kristen M. Scatton and directed by Co-Founder/Co-Artistic Director Carly L. Bodnar. Performances will take place June 5-16, 2018 in the Skinner Studio at Plays & Players Theatre.

The world knows the story of Helen of Troy - or thinks it does, anyway. Accompany history's most famous beauty on her journey from fame to infamy in this reimagining of the mythology of Helen of Troy that examines the impact of societal standards of beauty. Combining elements of classical Greek drama (simple staging, use of a chorus) with modern storytelling and a healthy dose of humor, The Helen Project uses a diverse all-women ensemble cast to explore and challenge our ideas and definitions of feminine beauty.

The Helen Project continues ReVamp Collective's mission to provide on- and off-stage opportunities for women (cis and trans) and genderqueer artists by featuring an all-women cast and production team.The cast includes Donovan Lockett, Hannah Hammel, Marisol Custodio, Lesley Berkowitz, Ontaria Kim Wilson, and Kasey Phillips. Production staff includes Associate Director Joan Lawson, and Stage Manager Gray Rogers.

Performances are Tuesday, June 5-Saturday, June 9 at 7:30 pm; Sunday, June 10 at 3 pm; Monday, June 11 at 7:30 pm, and Wednesday, June 13-Saturday, June 16 at 7:30 pm. Tuesday, June 5 is a Pay-What-You-Can-Preview. Tickets are $20 GA, $15 students/seniors.

About ReVamp Collective:

ReVamp Collective is a feminist-centric theatre company. We strive to create opportunities for women in all aspects of the theatrical process, give a voice to the silenced and create theatre for social change. Both in relation to the stage and in our society, our goal is to reset the feminist default and to explore the direction of the work when women and men, both cisgender and transgender, as well as genderqueer, collaborate on an equal playing ground. Resetting the feminist default means to reclaim the fight for equality while acknowledging that people experience oppression in varying configurations and in varying degrees of intensity, and that requires attention.

For more information about ReVamp Collective: www.revampcollective.com

Additional Show Information:
Words from the playwright: As a collective, we knew that we wanted to tell a story about Western ideals of feminine beauty, how those ideals are transmitted, and the effects they have on women of all body types, races, and socioeconomic statuses. As a playwright, the logical starting point for a play like this was Helen of Troy - the most beautiful woman in history. Despite Helen's fame, she is typically portrayed as one-dimensional in art and literature. The Helen Project is our way of giving Helen a voice to tell her own story, including her life before the Trojan War. Through Helen, we explore what it means to be "the most beautiful woman in the world" - the paradox of female beauty as both a power and a prison. Our intention is to give Helen the depiction she deserves - as a complex, realistic woman who is both intelligent and impulsive, confident and insecure, fabulous and flawed.

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