EgoPo to Present LADY FROM THE SEA, Begin. 2/19

EgoPo continues their season devoted to the father of modern drama, Henrik Ibsen, with his rarely-produced masterpiece Lady from the Sea, directed by EgoPo Resident Director Brenna Geffers, and starring a powerful cast including the wonderful Genevieve Perrier, Ross Beschler, and Ed Swidey. Lady from the Sea previews February 19th with Press Opening on Friday, February 21st; the show will run two weeks, closing on March 2nd, at Christ Church Neighborhood House.

Widely considered one of Ibsen's finest masterpieces, Lady from the Sea is rarely performed making EgoPo's lush staging a special treat for Philadelphia audiences. At the center of the play is one of the great female roles in all of western drama, and perhaps one of its most demanding. EgoPo is proud to have Genevieve Perrier take on this powerful, complex and mysterious woman, surrounded by a fantastic supporting cast.

Lady from the Sea is one of Ibsen's most lyrical, atmospheric and symbolic plays. The ocean, in all of its depth and mystery, becomes the central theme. Unfulfilled desire emanates from every line, as Ibsen digs deep into the layers of each character's psyche, stripping the façade off their personal lives, and revealing their deepest longings. EgoPo will transport audiences to a life lived in The Shadows of the mountains, a place caught between mountain and sea, darkness and light, with another of their signature distinctive stagings.

The production traces the deep yearnings of Ellida, the play's beating heart. In her youth, Ellida fell in love with a sailor who shared her deep connection with the sea, but one day he left on a voyage and never returned. The years pass and as society demands, Ellida makes a happy marriage with a widower, taking on the role of mother for her step-daughters, and forever concealing her past love. Lady from the Sea reaches a crescendo when the mysterious sailor returns to reclaim his love. Forced to choose between her past and future, Ellida must confront her own needs and passions, beyond domineering social expectations.

EgoPo is thrilled to welcome back set designer, Dan Soule, for this production. Returning from earning his masters at NYU, Soule's past EgoPo credits include Vieux Carre, Bluebird, Woyzeck, Endgame, and Waiting for Godot. He will bring his beautifully immersive style to create Ibsen's changing world by the sea.

The dynamic role of Ellida will be played by the extremely talented Genevieve Perrier. EgoPo is excited to welcome back Perrier, having performed in EgoPo's 2012 world premiere of The Golem. A two-time Barrymore Award winning actress, and graduate from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, Perrier is well known in Philadelphia for her work with the Philadelphia Theater Company, the Arden, and Lantern among many others.

EgoPo is proud to have many familiar faces join the cast of Lady from the Sea such as Ross Beschler (The Golem, Hell, and Marat/Sade) known for his work at the Wilma and People's Light; Ed Swidey (the star of last year's Uncle Tom's Cabin) most recently seen in the incredible one-man Bathtub Moby Dick, as well as K.O. DelMarcelle (Anne Frank), Robert Carlton (Uncle Tom's Cabin), Lee Minora (Houdini), and Kevin Chick (The Golem). EgoPo is also excited to have Colleen Corcoran join our stage for the first time.