SATC Scandinavian American Theater Company Presents

BASTARDS OF STRINDBERG

By DOMINIQUE MORISSEAU, DAVID BAR KATZ, ANDREAS BOONSTRA, LINA EKDAHL
Directed by HENING HEGLAND and ALICIAN DHYANA HOUSE

Featuring

INGRID KULLBERG-BENDZ, VANESSA JOHANSSON, DEVIN B. TILLMAN, ALBERT BENDIX
RIKKE LYLLOFF, ZENZELE COOPER, KWASI OSEI, DREW O’KANE

Composer & Vocalist: ANETTE NORGAARD & ELYSSA SAMSEL
Choreographer: LAUREN CAMP
Set Design: STARLET JACOBS
Costume Design: NICOLE WEE
Sound Design & Composer: AMY ALTADONNA
Lighting Designer: YUKI NAKASE
Assistant Sound Designer: PAMELA McCADDIN
Violinist: ELYSSA SAMSEL
Fight Choreographer: JEFFERSON REARDON
Stage Manager: LAUREL DETKIN
Assistant Production Manager: MALIN BERGGREN LUNDELL

Lion Theatre at Theatre Row
410 West 42nd Street (between Ninth & Tenth Avenues)
(212) 239-6200 or www.telecharge.com
September 2 – 21, 2014; Opening Night: 09/05/14

The Scandinavian American Theater Company commissioned four playwrights to produce short pieces in response to August Strindberg’s Miss Julie which he wrote in 1888. Originally a ground-breaking play that introduced a new theater of realism, Miss Julie is considered a classic masterpiece that dealt with social and economic inequalities and injustices. The new pieces, amidst haunting music and innovative choreography, all take place on Midsummer’s Eve where one night can change the direction of a life.

Chanting Hymns To Fruitless Moons by David Bar Katz warns of the ramifications of erotic arousal, ancient rituals, and forbidden acts. Lina Ekdahl’s Midsummer at Tyrolen unfolds an unlikely business plan tainted with escape. Truth About Froken Julie by Andreas Boonstra allows the characters to deconstruct their play and thereby create their own destiny. But by far the shining star of this quartet is Dominque Morrisseau’s High Powered. Two black servants define ambition and debate whether the cost is worth the effort and benefit. Poignant soliloquies beautifully performed by Zenzele Cooper and Kwasi Osei powerfully speak for any oppressed group or class of people.

Remaining somewhat true to Strindberg’s Miss Julie, two playwrights from Sweden and two playwrights from America update the version with underlying themes of disparities and discrimination in current time. But not to despair, the unifying refrain in each individual piece of BASTARDS OF STRINDBERG is hope and the desire to overcome. Ah, the human spirit!

- Laurie Lawson -