JTS Presents Two Plays in Repertory by Ari Roth
(ATLANTA, GA) – Jewish Theatre of the South (JTS) continues its mainstage season with a two-play repertory made up of a probing drama and its searing sequel. “Born Guilty” and “Peter And The Wolf (And Me),” both by playwright Ari Roth, will run in repertory over a six-week period, beginning January 27, 2007. (please see attachment for repertory schedule.) Matt Huff (The Ride Down Mount Morgan, JTS; The Skin Of Our Teeth, Theater Emory) directs “Born Guilty”; while Joseph Megel makes his JTS and Atlanta directorial debuts with “Peter And The Wolf (And Me).”
“Born Guilty,” opening Saturday, January 27, 2007, is based on the book of the same name by Peter Sichrovsky. When Peter (David de Vries), an Austrian-Jewish journalist, accepts a magazine assignment entitled “Children of Nazis,” his professional task becomes a personal quest. Journeying through Germany and Austria, he interviews a host of intriguing characters who provide him with compelling and often outrageous family stories. Ultimately, he encounters Susanne, a woman torn between her loyalty to her dying father and her love for her teenage son – an inquisitive boy who has just made a chilling discovery about his grandfather's wartime deeds. Previously produced by Jewish Theatre of the South a decade ago, this surprising drama continues to pack a punch in its examination of “the sins of the father,” of war crimes and criminals, and of guilt and acceptance.
“Born Guilty at JTS is the kind of play one should see – no, needs to see…eloquent (with) a deeply-felt humanity and a sense of humor.” – Atlanta Theatre Weekly (1997). “Born Guilty” runs through March 4, 2007. (Preview performances: January 24–26.)
Running in repertory with “Born Guilty” will be the Regional Premiere of Roth's “Peter And The Wolf (And Me),” opening Saturday, February 10, 2007. While adapting “Born Guilty” into a work of theater, playwright Ari Roth befriended the book's author, Peter Sichrovsky, a fellow second-generation-Holocaust-survivor, and an apparent kindred spirit. But what the real-life Sichrovsky would do next, no one could have predicted. Who could imagine that he would align himself with Joerg Haider, a Nazi apologist and the populist leader of Austria's right-wing Freedom Party? “How does a man suddenly become a different man?” wonders our Adapter (Chris Moses) , who sets off to Europe to find out. Can The Adapter convince Peter to stand up to “the Wolf”? Is Peter a traitor? A mercenary? An entrepreneur? A hero? “Peter And The Wolf (And Me)”offers an unexpected and often comic look at the murky gray lines between good and evil; opportunism and survival. The JTS production marks the second staging of this play, which, in addition to receiving a new title (the play was originally titled Peter And The Wolf), has undergone major revisions since its original production at Theater J (Washington, DC) in 2003. “Peter And The Wolf (And Me)” runs through March 4, 2007. (Preview performances: February 7–9.)
The “Born Guilty” and “Peter And The Wolf (And Me)”repertory ensemble features David deVries, Chris Moses, Tess Malis Kincaid, Joanna Daniel, Bill Murphey, Maia Knispel, Barry Anbinder and Dolph Amick. (please see attached list for cast/character breakdown.)
The “Born Guilty” and “Peter And The Wolf (And Me)” design team includes set designer Travis George (From Door To Door, The Ride Down Mount Morgan, JTS); lighting designer Chris Crawford, costume designer Linda Patterson, sound designer Mimi Epstein and properties designer Ray Smith.
Single ticket prices for “Born Guilty” and “Peter And The Wolf (And Me)” are $18 – $30, with discounts for students, seniors, groups and MJCCA members.
** There is a $5 discount when purchasing tickets to both plays in the two-play rep.
** It is recommended that audiences see “Born Guilty” prior to seeing its sequel – “Peter And The Wolf (And Me).”
The JTS season will conclude in the spring with the World Premiere of “Hank Kimmel's Shorts,” a hilarious world premiere production of Woody-Allen-esque short plays by Atlanta playwright Hank Kimmel, running April 25 – May 20, 2007, and directed by JTS Artistic Director Mira Hirsch.
All Jewish Theatre of the South performances take place in the Morris & Rae Frank Theatre, located at the MJCCA, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody. All performances run Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday nights at 8pm; Sundays at 3pm. Each Opening Night Saturday is preceded by three reduced-price previews: Wednesdays at 8pm; Thursdays at 8pm and Friday morning “Coffee Series” performances at 10:30 am.
For additional information, please contact: Lora Sommer, Public Relations Coordinator at 770.395.2603, lora.sommer@atlantajcc.org; or Mira Hirsch, Artistic Director at 770.395.2613, mira.hirsch@atlantajcc.org. For ticket information and purchase, call the JTS Box Office at 770.395.2654; e-mail at jts@atlantajcc.org; or buy tickets on-line at www.jplay.org.