Woolly Mammoth Opens THE ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DEITY Tonight, 9/3

The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, by Kristoffer Diaz and directed by Woolly Company Member John Vreeke, opens Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company's Season 33, tonight, September 3 through September 30, 2012.

A "delicious crackle and pop of a galloping, honest-to-God, all-American satire" (The New York Times), The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity explores the larger-than-life world of professional wrestling. Macedonio "Mace" Guerra has been the fall-guy for mega-successful THE Wrestling, losing again and again to the impossibly charismatic champ, Chad Deity. When Mace discovers a young Indian-American Brooklyn kid whose charisma rivals that of the champ, Mace decides to get him a job in the company. Only problem is, the boss has a very specific plan for the duo: put them onscreen as terrorists. 

"I'm thrilled to introduce a meteoric writing talent, Kristoffer Diaz, to Washington," says Woolly Artistic Director, Howard Shalwitz. "Inspired by his love of both hip hop and wrestling, Kris draws us into a world gone mad with jingoistic fever, of daring stunts and absurd stereotypes, woven together by a simple tale of friendship."

Woolly Mammoth's Season 33, My Roots, My Revolution, is a passionate exploration of the decisions we make when our emotions are bombarded by complex forces of religion, heritage, values, and ethnicity. What do we inherit from our family, our culture, and our homeland? And how does this impact the choices we make for our future? With a unique global perspective, these ambitious new works carry us to far flung destinations including Africa, Korea, Disneyworld, Burning Man, and the world of professional wrestling. Fueled by Woolly's brilliant company and guest artists, the results will be unexpectedly humorous, heartbreaking, and intensely provocative. 

In the six works that make up Woolly's Season 33, a group of unforgettable characters choose whether to embrace their legacies, run from them, or invent a whole new future. They include Kristoffer Diaz's The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity(Sept 3 – 30), Mia Chung's You For Me For You (Nov 5 – Dec 2), Danai Gurira's The Convert (Feb 11 – Mar 10), Mike Daisey's American Utopias (Mar 19 – Apr 14), and Aaron Posner's Stupid f-ing Bird (May 27 – June 23). Coming to Woolly this holiday season is Shenoah Allen and Mark Chavez's The Pajama Men: In The Middle of No One (Dec 11 – Jan 6).