NYC's Ma-Yi Theatre Ensemble will premiere a new adaptation of Bertolt Brecht's Mother Courage and Her Children, August 6 - Aug 29. Tazewell Thompson will direct.
Rodolfo Vera's adaptation is set in the Phillippines, on the southern island of Mindanao at the cusp of Marital Law in 1972 -- setting Brecht's arguments against war in a Filipino context, to explore the Muslim Christian conflict.
Tazewell Thompson is the former Artistic Director of Syracuse Stage and Artistic Associate/Resident at Arena Stage and The Acting Company. His productions have been nominated for over 25 Helen Hayes Awards.
Ching Valdesaran, 1997 OBIE winner for Ma-Yi's Flipzoids, stars in the production with other cast members including: Arthur Acuna, Kim Awon, Rich Ceraullo, Ron Domingo, Josh Fox, Jojo Gonzalez, Tess Lina, Carl Palmer, Nicky Paraiso, Suzi Takahashi, Rodolfo Vera, and Maurice Vill Lobos.
The Ma-Yi Theatre Ensemble was founded in 1989 to develop, produce, and present plays and performance works that explore and effect the Filipino experience. For tickets ($15) or more information, call (212) 581-8896.
-- By Sean McGrath