SON OF SEMELE ENSEMBLE PRESENTS

THE WEST COAST PREMIERE OF

IPHIGENIA CRASH LAND FALLS ON THE NEON SHELL
THAT WAS ONCE HER HEART (A RAVE FABLE)

OPENING AT THE STUDIO SPACE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3

IPHIGENIA CRASH LAND FALLS ON THE NEON SHELL THAT WAS ONCE HER HEART (A RAVE FABLE), by Caridad Svich, receives its West Coast Premiere production with Son of Semele Ensemble (SOSE). IPHIGENIA hurls one of Greek tragedy’s most compelling sagas into a modern netherworld of mass-media overload, sex, drugs and mind-thumping trance music. IPHIGENIA… (A RAVE FABLE) will run from November 3 through December 3, 2006, at The Studio Space in downtown Los Angeles.

Meet Iphigenia, the pampered daughter of a ruthless Latin American dictator who learns that her corrupt father is planning to sacrifice her life in order to get re-elected. To escape her fate, she embarks on an Alice-in-Wonderland-style trip through the dark fringes of society to reach a rave on the northernmost edge of the city. On her journey, she encounters the tormented ghosts of the Women of Juarez. IPHIGENIA… (A RAVE FABLE) exists in a world where Greek tragedy meets modern media, rave culture, androgyny and the oppressed. Featuring an original techno-rock score, projections and a Virtual DJ at the helm, IPHIGENIA… (A RAVE FABLE) transports you to a place where the bass keeps pumping and the bodies keep throbbing until dawn.

IPHIGENIA… (A RAVE FABLE) was written by award-winning Latina playwright Caridad Svich. Son of Semele Ensemble’s premiere is the first fully produced work of Svich’s to be staged in her native home of Los Angeles. Her So Cal background includes an MFA from UCSD, the NEA/TCG Resident Playwright at the Mark Taper Forum (1998-1999) and part of SCR’s Hispanic Playwrights Project. Svich’s IPHIGENIA… (A RAVE FABLE) was a finalist for the PEN USA 2005 Literary Awards for Drama, premiering in the U.S. at 7 Stages Theatre in Atlanta. In 2002, Svich founded the Pan-American Theatre Coalition. She is a member of New Dramatists and her writing has been featured in numerous publications. Svich’s latest play, Thrush premiered at Salvage Vanguard Theatre in Austin, Texas this fall.

The cast includes Richard Azurdia, Doug Barry, Sharyn-genel Gabriel, Michelle Ingkavet, Edgar Landa, Alexander Wells and Jonathan C.K. Williams. The production is directed by Matthew McCray, stage-managed by Christopher Rivera, with scenic design by Ken MacKenzie, puppet design by Deborah Bird, lighting design by John Eckert, music composed by Ryan Poulson, sound design by Cricket S. Myers and costume/mask design by Hallie Dufresne. The video design is by Shannon Scrofano, with still photography by Barbara Kallir, cinematography by Michael Marius Pessah and editing by Dominic Mah.

Hailed as one of the “hippest, hottest, most innovative theatre troupes in the U.S.”, by American Theatre Magazine, SOSE is a collective of theatre professionals that recognizes emerging cultural questions through the production of new or under-exposed plays. The ensemble company of 30, composed primarily of actors and directors, was featured on the cover of the December 2004 issue of American Theatre Magazine. SOSE was also profiled in the Winter/Spring 2005 issue of TheatreForum Magazine for its production of Carlos Murillo’s A Human Interest Story. In November 2002, SOSE was honored with seven Ovation Award nominations for its production of Animal Farm, winning for Best Musical Production (intimate venue) and Best Director of a Musical (Edgar Landa). In February 2005, SOSE was recognized with an NAACP Theatre Award for Best Choreography for its 2004 production of The Tower, which received a total of four nominations including Best Ensemble Cast. Last year SOSE presented the U.S. premiere of The Mysteries, adapted by Edward Kemp, the World Premiere of Preludes & Fugues by John Glore and most recently, King Cat Calico Finally Flies Free! by Aaron Henne.

Performances of IPHIGENIA… (A RAVE FABLE) are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 7 p.m. There will be no performances on Thanksgiving weekend.

Admission is $20.00. Tickets are available exclusively at www.sonofsemele.org or at the box office one half hour prior to show time. For more information, call 1-800-838-3006 or visit www.sonofsemele.org. The Studio Space is located in downtown at 1238 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026.