Thursday, March 18, 2010

TBTB to present world premiere of "Bass for Picasso" with disabled actors

From Playbill.com. In the picture, Playwright Kate Moira Ryan, Anita Hollander and director Ike Schambelan.

Theater Breaking Through Barriers (TBTB) will present the world premiere of Kate Moira Ryan's "Bass for Picasso" Off-Broadway this spring.

Previews will begin April 17 prior to an official press opening May 2 at Theatre Row's Kirk Theatre. Ike Schambelan directs.

The cast will feature Anita Hollander, Mary Archbold, Felice Neals, Terry Small and Nicholas Viselli.

In Bass for Picasso, press notes state, "amputee and food writer for the New York Times Francesca Danieli throws a dinner party for her friends recreating recipes (including the titular entree) from the 'Alice B. Toklas Cookbook.' The guest list includes Pilar, her multilingual art detective lover, who has spent time in Guantanamo for visa problems; Bricka Matson, a lesbian widow with a small child and Republican in-laws who are trying to gain custody; Joe, an OB/GYN whose lover is a geographically challenged crystal meth addict; and Kev, a playwright who has recently fallen off the wagon and written a soon-to-open Off-Broadway play about all of them. It's an insanely funny, irreverent 80-minute look at gay and lesbian life in the new millennium."

The design team includes Bert Scott (lighting and set design), Christine Field (costume design), Alden Fulcomer (sound design) and J. David Brimmer (fight director). Kimothy Cruse is stage manager; Brooke Elsinghorst is assistant stage manager.
Kate Moira Ryan is the author of 25 Questions for a Jewish Mother, Mommie Queerest and The Beebo Brinker Chronicles.

Performances will continue through May 23.

Show times will be Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.

Theatre Row's Kirk Theatre is located at 410 West 42nd Street. Tickets are $41.25; for reservations call (212) 279-4200 or visit www.ticketcentral.com.

For additional information, visit www.tbtb.org.

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Theater Breaking Through Barriers, formerly Theater by the Blind, is a critically acclaimed company integrating able-bodied actors with artists with disabilities. Founded in 1979, by Artistic Director Ike Schambelan, the company's mission is "to change the image of people with disabilities from one of dependence to independence, to fight stereotypes and misperceptions associated with disability, and to show how vibrant, fluid and exuberant the work of artists with disabilities can be."