New Rep Announces afterlife: a ghost story A National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere by Steve Yockey
November 29, 2010
New Repertory Theatre, in residence at the Arsenal Center for the Arts, is excited to be a part of the National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere of afterlife: a ghost story. Steve Yockey’s poetic play follows a young couple in the process of grieving, who tumble into an alternate reality, are forced to confront the ghosts that haunt them, and ultimately must decide what their afterlife will be. Directed by Kate Warner, afterlife: a ghost story will open on Monday, January 17, 2011 and run through Sunday, February 6, 2011 in the Charles Mosesian Theater.
afterlife: a ghost story is part of National New Play Network’s (NNPN) Continued Life Project, and is produced in conjunction with productions at Southern Repertory Theatre (New Orleans, LA) and Edgemar Theatre Group (Santa Monica, CA), making it a “rolling world premiere.” New Rep represents Boston in NNPN, which champions the development, production and continued life of new plays in American theater.
Kate Warner, New Rep’s Artistic Director and the director of afterlife: a ghost story, states, “We are proud of our affiliation with NNPN. It fits perfectly with our mission to bring extraordinary writing and innovative works to the discerning Boston audience. afterlife: a ghost story is a moving work, and I am thrilled New Rep is able to be an integral part in introducing Yockey’s innovative and inimitable work to audiences.”
Steve Yockey, the playwright comments, “I am thrilled that afterlife: a ghost story is a NNPN Rolling World Premiere. As a playwright, it is invaluable to have the opportunity for your work to be shown in three distinctive markets within one year. It greatly assists with the development of the play and the exposure that my work receives helps to build momentum for it.”
Yockey adds, “I am also excited for New Rep’s production of afterlife: a ghost story and to be working with Kate again. Without question, Kate has been a zealous champion of my work. She commissioned and directed my first three professional short plays and first two full-length plays (Sleepy and Skin) at Dad’s Garage in Atlanta, GA and then directed the East & West Coast premieres of my play Octopus at Actor’s Express and The Magic respectively.
Steve Yocky will visit Boston twice in January. Yockey’s first visit will be from the January 2nd to January 6, 2011. During this visit, he will be attending rehearsals for New Rep’s production of afterlife: a ghost story. Yockey will return to Boston in order to attend the previews on Sunday, January 16, 2011 and the Press Opening on Monday, January 17, 2011 of afterlife: a ghost story.
New Rep has been an integral part in the development of this play. Last year, afterlife: a ghost story was a part of New Voices @ New Rep, a series of free staged readings dedicated to introducing our audiences to emerging playwrights and bringing their attention to new works by established writers. The feedback Yockey received from New Rep’s live audience was instrumental in the development of this work.
afterlife: a ghost story has a remarkable cast of New Rep favorites: Karl Baker Olson (The Lieutenant of Inishmore and The Misanthrope), Marianna Bassham (Picasso at the Lapin Agile, A Streetcar Named Desire, Silence, Tartuffe, and Quills), Georgia Lyman (White
People), and Thomas Piper (Mister Roberts. We are also thrilled to introduce to New Rep’s stage Dale Place.
An approaching storm forces a young married couple to come home to their empty beach house and batten down the hatches. When a giant wave comes crashing over them, they tumble into an alternative reality where both must confront the ghosts that haunt them and decide what their afterlife will be. This poetic and beautiful Rolling World Premiere by Steve Yockey is sure to captivate you.
New Repertory Theatre presents provocative and intelligent works of both established and emerging playwrights in an intimate setting that involves and engages the audience. New Rep has earned a reputation for dynamic productions that honor the writers and feature talented professional actors from the New England Theatre community as well as guest artists from around the U.S. New Rep has received Elliot Norton and IRNE Awards for outstanding acting, scenic design, directions, and production. Programming for New Repertory Theatre is supported in part by a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
For Press Inquiries: Contact Gia Podobinski at 617-923-7060, extension 205
or e-mail gia@newrep.org