This Fantasia on Survival is a poignant and sharply satiric account of playwright Jamuna Yvette Sirker's experiences during Hurricane Katrina.  This new work is poetic, at times brutal, and surprisingly funny.  We follow Teacher Alice (Anna Lamadrid) on her journey through the abyss of sudden homelessness, and hell and high water.  Alice’s very survival hinges on the help of Bag L (Joyce Griffen), the ghost of a bag lady who serves as her spirit guide. Along the way we meet Katrina (Frederick Mayer) and an array of colorful New Orleans characters. Ms. Sirker weaves the historical and political with farcical and surreal elements, to explore the psychological impact of loss, abandonment, and displacement. This multidisciplinary new work includes multimedia, poetry, dance, and New Orleans music.

HELL AND HIGH WATER, OR LESSONS FOR WHEN THE SKY FALLS is made possible in part with public funds from the Manhattan Community Arts Fund, supported by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and administered by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, the Dramatists Guild Fund, Jewish Communal Fund, and the N.W. Dible Foundation.

CAST:

Richarda Abrams* (Cherry Lane, Public Theatre, La MaMa)	Frances Chewning* (The Lark, BAM)	Ross DeGraw* (NC Shakespeare)
Joyce Griffen* (BWAY: Don’t Bother Me I Can’t Cope)	Cary Hite	Russell Jordan
Anna Lamadrid	Frederick Mayer	Paul Christian Mischeshin*

ARTISTIC COMPANY:

Written by Jamuna Yvette Sirker Playwright Jamuna Yvette Sirker is a native of New Orleans of Nicaraguan and East Indian decent. Hell and High Water was presented as a one-act by The Drilling Company in SECURITY 2 Festival; Early Version Readings at Lark Play Development Center, Stanford University Department of Theater, American Theater Higher Education Conference (New Orleans, LA.). Recipient National Endowment for the Arts, the Arts Council of New Orleans, LA Division of the Arts, RosaMary Foundation, the Kabacoff Foundation; LA Division of the Arts Fellowship, Gambit Weekly's 40 Under 40 Award. Ms. Sirker holds a B.A. in English from Cornell University; MFA in Acting from NYU. Founding Artistic and Executive Director of Zhoux Zhoux Theatre Company, and founding Executive Director of Creative Resources for Creative Learning an arts education/arts infusion service for K-12 educators and students.

Directed and Produced by Lorca Peress, MultiStages Artistic Director Artistic Director Lorca Peress founded MultiStages in 1997. This multidisciplinary multicultural theatre company has presented over thirty world premiere festivals, readings, and productions. Peress recently directed Kathleen Chalfant in the LPTW Turning Points Benefit at Cherry Lane. Other Credits: DUTF (Cherry Lane), Hudson Guild Theatre, La MaMa, HERE, Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre, Teatro La Tea, Urban Stages, NJ Repertory, Theatre for the New City, et al. Lee Strasberg and NYU-Strasberg Faculty, Member of the League of Professional Theatre Women, AEA, SAG, AFTRA, SSDC Eligible, La MaMa Inky Award Winner, Bennington College graduate. See complete bio at www.eljallartsannex.com/multistages.htm.

Jan Hartley Video Design JAN HARTLEY (Projection Design) NYTW: Cavedweller, Heart Is A Lonely Hunter. Broadway: Imaginary Friends, Little Me. Off-Broadway: Red, Hot And Riot (Bam); Miracle Brothers, American Fiesta (Vineyard); The Orphans Home Cycle, Baltimore Waltz (Signature); Mystery School; Lobster Alice,. Regional: Finding Nemo, The Musical. International: The Noise Of Time, Napoleon, West End, Theatre De Complicite. Opera: Götterdämmerung (San Francisco Opera, Washington National Opera, 2010), Siegfried, Die Walkure. Awards: Drama Desk, Obie, La Drama Critics Awards.

The Artistic Company also includes: Jennifer Chin, Choreographer; Josh Allen, Sound Design; Alex Moore, Lighting Design; Geoffrey Nixon, Stage Manager; Lorca Peress, Set Design; Jaki Silver, Associate Producer; Denise R. Zeiler* Production Stage Manager; Scotti Rhodes Publicity

* members of AEA

Join us for special talk-backs, which will be announced on the www.smarttix.com website as guests are confirmed.

HUDSON GUILD THEATRE
441 West 26th Street (off Tenth Avenue)
Previews Thurs. and Fri., April 1-2, 2010
Tuesday – Saturday at 8PM: April 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 at 8PM
Sunday Matinees - April 4, 11, 18 at 3PM, Special Easter Matinee April 4 at 3PM
All Previews $15.00, General Tickets $18.00, Students $10.00
Purchase tickets at www.Smarttix.com, or call 212-868-4444

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