Photos: Epic Theatre Co Kicks Off Season with HOUSE ARREST

Epic Theatre Company is launching its new season with Anna Deavere Smith's politically evocative House Arrest: A Search for American Character In and Around the White House, Past and Present. The one-woman show has been transformed into a riveting ensemble piece featuring some of Rhode Island's finest actors.

"The theme for this season is Truth to Power," says Epic Artistic Director Kevin Broccoli, "And I can't think of a better play or playwright to open up a season like this than Anna Deavere Smith and her fascinating look at the White House and how the people inside it shape the lives of ordinary citizens. The play asks how much the people at the top owe the people at the bottom, and traces the ripples of Presidential history and its influence from Thomas Jefferson to Bill Clinton."

To kick off the season, Broccoli has tapped another Artistic Director-Jonathan Pitts-Wiley of Mixed Magic-to tackle this ambitious project.

"Jon is a great friend and an incredible director," says Broccoli, "I knew this was going to be a really challenging show. The ideas and testimonials that compose it present really complex and intriguing ideas that require a lot of exploration. Jon is an artist, a teacher, and someone with a lot of cultural and historical insight. He's the perfect person to take on a truly Epic project."

Broccoli sees House Arrest as the beginning of a season that will seek to reflect the times and present audiences with stories about resistance and resilience.

"This season we're performing shows at swimming pools, in warehouses, outdoors, indoors, and everywhere there's a stage," says Broccoli, before adding Epic's tagline- "Buckle Up."

Tickets: $20 General Admission, $15 for Seniors, Students are Free. Tickets can be purchased by going to http://www.artists-exchange.org/epictheatrecompany.html or by signing up for Epic's Patreon program by going to www.Patreon.com/EpicTheatreCo

Photo Credit: Dave Cantelli

Angelique Dina

Geoff White

Greg Geer

Jake Kuhn

Kelly Robertson

Michelle L. Walker

Michlle L. Walker and Andrew Conley