Contact:
Alyssa Gorgone
Managing Director
alyssa@thewilburygroup.org
(401) 400-7100
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The Wilbury Group
Josh Short
Artistic Director
Alyssa Gorgone
Managing Director
Board of Directors
Orah Bilmes
Maureen Cotter, Ed.D.
Timothy Crepeau
Jo An Peralta
Adam Riser, Esq.
Adam Short
Joe Short
Andrew Stigler, Ph.D.
James Tackach, Ph.D.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wilbury Group kicks off 2013 with Pulitzer Prize finalist The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity
PROVIDENCE, RI - The Wilbury Group proudly announces the RI premiere of Kristoffer Diaz's Pulitzer Price nominated play The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity January 23-February 9, 2013. Winner of the 2011 Obie Award for Best New American Play, The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity slams together thrilling spectacle, incredible characters, and geopolitical allegory into a uniquely invigorating theatrical experience.
Through an exciting partnership with New England's largest independent wrestling organization, Top Rope Promotions, Wilbury Group Artistic Director Josh Short stages Kristoffer Diaz's thrilling spectacle of wrestling, hilarity and social commentary. Exploring the larger than life world of professional wrestling, THE Pro Wrestling's "jobber-to-the-stars" Macedonio "Mace" Guerra (Jo An Peralta) has been the fall-guy for mega-successful THE Wrestling, losing again and again to the impossibly charismatic champ, Chad Deity (Amos Hamrick). When Mace discovers young Indian-American Brooklynite Vigneshwar Paduar (Ben Gracia), whose charisma rivals that of the champ, Mace decides to get him a job in the company. Only problem is, THE boss Everett K. Olsen (Vince Petronio) has a very specific plan for the duo: put them onscreen as terrorists..
"We're thrilled to be able to introduce Providence to the incredible talent that is Kristoffer Diaz, and we couldn't be prouder to be among the first few companies in the country to produce The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity," says Wilbury Group Artistic Director Josh Short. "Inspired by Diaz's love of wrestling, hip-hop and theatre, combined with a powerful message, it's exactly the kind of exciting, accessible, and ambitious play that The Wilbury Group loves to tackle. As we continue to grow into our space at the Butcher Block Mill, we're continuously looking for ways to push ourselves to becoming an important part of the revitalization of Olneyville and the West Side of Providence."
"It's been incredible to see the crowds that The Wilbury Group has brought to the Butcher Block and businesses on the West Side since they've begun performing here," says Butcher Block Mill owner and supporter of the arts Rachel Rafaelian. "Refurbishing this mill and turning it into a major center for the arts has always been a dream, and we couldn't be happier to see The Wilbury Group, and our other resident artists, turning it into a reality."
The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity runs January 24 through February 9 at the Butcher Block Mill, 25 Eagle Street, Providence RI. Tickets: $20-$25; preview performances (January 24-27) just $15-$20. Discounts for groups of 10 or more, students and seniors. Tickets at 401-400-7100 or thewilburygroup.org.
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ABOUT THE PLAY
In wrestling, as in life, behind every winner lies a really excellent loser. This smart, hilarious powerslam of a play from Pulitzer Prize nominee Kristoffer Diaz features Macedonio "The Mace" Guerra, a middle rank Puerto Rican pro-wrestler who's made a career of being that loser. He thinks he's found his ticket to the big time in a charismatic Indian kid from Brooklyn whom he recruits as the perfect foil to wrestling star Chad Deity. But when their wrestling rivalry is used to exploit racial stereotypes to raise ratings, Mace wonders: is swallowing his integrity too high a price for the rewards of the media spotlight?
The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity had its world premiere in 2009 at Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago before moving to Second Stage in New York. In addition to a finalist of for the Pultizer Prize, this thrilled new work by playwright Kristoffer Diaz has already been lauded with the 2011 New York Times Play Prize, the Obie Award for Best New American Play and theLucille Lortel Award for Best New Play.
"A thrilling entry into the brave new world of bright lights, racial complexities and hot new plays." - The Chicago Tribune
"The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity has the delicious crackle and pop of a galloping, honest-to-god, all american satire." -The New York Times
"You don't have to like wrestling to love The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity... Kristoffer Diaz's visceral satire brings big-time wrestling onstage in eminently theatrical style." -San Francisco Examiner
The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity runs January 24 through February 9 at the Butcher Block Mill, 25 Eagle Street, Providence RI. Tickets: $20-$25; preview performances (January 24-27) just $15-$20. Discounts for groups of 10 or more, students and seniors. Tickets at 401-400-7100 or thewilburygroup.org.
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ABOUT THIS PRODUCTION
The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity by Kristoffer Diaz Directed by Josh Short
Sound Design, Cyrus Leddy Wig & Hair Design, Suseon Bak Costume Design, Alyssa Opishinski Lighting & Scenic Design, Alex Gorgone Visual Media Design, Michael Commendatore Wrestling Coach, Jonathan Olivera Dramaturge, Christina Wolfskehl Stage Management, Travis Greene
CAST Mace, Jo-An Peralta Chad Deity, Amos Hamrick VP, Ben Gracia EKO. Vince Petronio The Bad Guy, Stuart Wilson
Additional wrestling training & facilities provided by Top Rope Promotions, New England's largest independent wrestling association.
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CALENDAR OF PERFORMANCES
January Wednesday, January 23 7:30pm PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN Thursday, January 24 7:30pm PREVIEW Friday, January 25 7:30pm PREVIEW Saturday, January 26 7:30pm PREVIEW Sunday, January 27 7:30pm PRESS/OPENING* Thursday, January 31 7:30pm February Friday, February 1 7:30pm* Saturday, February 2 7:30pm* Thursday, February 7 7:30pm Friday, February 8 7:30pm* Saturday, February 9 7:30pm*
*performances to be followed by professional wrestling demonstrations, courtesy Top Rope Promotions
Preview tickets: $20 general, $15 students/seniors. Regular tickets: $25 general, $20 students/seniors Wednesday January 23 is Pay-What-You-Can. Tickets may be purchased online via Brown Paper Tickets @ http://chaddeity.brownpapertickets.com/ |
ABOUT THE WILBURY THEATRE GROUP Founded in 2010, The Wilbury Group is an ever-evolving collaboration of artists committed to creating the highest quality professional theatre. Founded on the belief that quality theatre should be an affordable and accessible means of enrichment to the community; The Wilburys strive to create work that will simultaneously engage, inspire, and provoke-thought among audiences.
The Wilbury Theatre Group is a registered 501(c)3 tax deductible organization. |
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