'Monkey Room' Opens at Magic Theatre April 12

Magic Theatre continues its 2007-08 Season of New Plays with Monkey Room, a new play by Kevin Fisher directed by Magic Director of Artistic Development Mark Routhier. 

"Four monkeys in an HIV-research lab do not become sick despite repeated injections of the virus – but why?  Ava, the new head of the lab, must solve the mystery to find a breakthrough vaccine before her funding is cut. This daring new comic drama explores the lengths people go to fight for what they believe in," describe press notes.

The world premiere production is a presentation of the Magic Theatre / Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Science & Technology Initiative and performs April 5 – May 4, 2008 at Magic's Northside Theatre (Bldg D, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco, CA – parking lot entrance at Marina Blvd. and Buchanan St.). Tickets are $20-$45 and available at (415) 441-8822 or www.magictheatre.org.

In conjunction with the world premiere production, Magic Theatre will present "Vaccine Dreams: Epidemics, Pandemics, and Monkey Room," a panel discussion of experts.  The Sloan Initiative Panel takes place on Sunday, April 27 at 4:30pm at the Magic and aims to bring high-level scientists in close contact with artists to encourage cross-pollination.  The panel discussion is free and open to public.  The participants will be announced shortly.

Playwright Kevin Fisher is a researcher himself and was one of the presenters at the 16th International AIDS Conference. The HIV-vaccine research continues to be in the headlines since the unexpected failure of Merck's Step vaccine, one of the most promising in the field.  Mining the inherent drama of the high-stakes field of research funding, Fisher takes an insider look at one scientist's personal mission to keep her funding to continue her work on a cutting-edge HIV vaccine.

The cast for Monkey Room includes Magic veterans Robert Parsons and Kevin Rolston; and newcomers Lauren Grace and Jessica Kitchens.  The production team features set designer James Faerron, light designer Christopher Studley, costume designer Brandin Baron, and sound designer Sara Huddleston.

Previews for Monkey Room are Saturday, April 5 at 8PM; Sunday, April 6 at 2:30PM; Wednesday, April 9 – Friday, April 11 at 8PM; officially opening Saturday, April 12 at 8PM with performances through May 4.

Show times are Wednesday – Saturday at 8PM; Sundays at 2:30PM & 7PM

Magic Theatre is located at Bldg D, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco, CA at Marina Blvd. and Buchanan St.

Tickets are $20-$45 (senior, student, educator, and group discounts available); Wednesday performances: Sliding scale tickets ($5-$25) available a half hour prior to performance. (as available) available at 415-441-8822 or www.magictheatre.org.  

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