Mirror Stage Announces First Show for the 2018-19 Season

On the heels of the successful 2017 debut of the Expand Upon staged reading series, Mirror Stage proudly announces Expand Upon: INCARCERATION as the first show of the 2018-2019 Season. It runs October 6 (8pm) and 7 (2pm)  in the University DIstrict and October 13 (8pm) and 14  (2pm) in Columbia City.

For each new Expand Upon in the series, the community selects a theme, and Mirror Stage commissions two local playwrights to develop 30-60 minute plays, using the same multi-generational, multi-racial cast. For the second Expand Upon staged reading, the community chose the theme of Incarceration, and Mirror Stage commissioned The Assailant by Alma Davenport, and The Swimming Pool by Stacy D. Flood.

The two new plays will be presented in tandem as simply staged readings without costumes or sets, with a moderated discussion following every performance so the community can explore the issues in more depth. One hour prior to the October 6th and October 14th performances, Dr. Dan Berger of UW Bothell will present a brief lecture on the history of mass incarceration in the United States.

The United States has the largest prison population in the world and the second highest per-capita incarceration rate. To read up on incarceration from a national and local level click here for the most recent report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics and clickhere for the monthly reports on King County's adult and juvenile detention statistics.

Expand Upon: INCARCERATION is directed by Mirror Stage's managing artistic director Suzanne M. Cohen and features local actors: Rick Dupree, Anasofia Gallegos, Adria LaMorticella, Pablo Lopez, Corey Spruill, and Benjamin Symons.

The Ethnic Cultural Theatre is in Seattle's University District at 3940 Brooklyn Ave NE. The Southside Commons is at 3518 S Edmunds St in South Seattle's Columbia City neighborhood. General Admission tickets are $15 and on sale now at mirrorstage.org. Students and seniors pay only $10 and a limited number of Pay-What-You-Can tickets are available.

Mirror Stage was Originally founded in 1991. It's a small professional theatre company reflecting the diversity of the community on stage in high quality, progressive, thought-provoking productions that play it smart without always playing it safe. The mission of Mirror Stage is to use the power of theatre to challenge assumptions, bias and prejudice, while encouraging more thoughtful reflection on today's issues. They nurture unique artistic voices while providing opportunities for newly emerging artists to work alongside more seasoned professionals. More at www.mirrorstage.org