Following a run in Central Park earlier this year, Torn Out Theater’s all-female, mostly nude production of The Tempest begins a return engagement in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park September 7.
According to Torn Out, the mission of the free, outdoor production is to celebrate body freedom and normalize the nude female form. Performances run through September 10 at Prospect Park’s Music Pagoda, with seating available on a first-come, first-served basis.
In response to a concerned mom who said she was uncomfortable with the nudity in the show, Torn Out put together the FAQ for parents who need help answering their kids' questions about the show. Read it here.
“The play’s selective use of nudity to dramatize The Tempest's central themes of identity and liberation builds on a long tradition of free expression in theatrical productions held in outdoor settings,” production notes explain—referencing earlier productions of Hair and Henry V.
The production is directed by Pitr Strait. Alice Mottola, who co-directed the original production with Strait, returns to the team as consulting director. The performance features a cast of eight actors and three dancers, with costume design by Enée Olson and assistant direction by Alexander Katz.
The initial production was produced in association with the Outdoor Co-Ed Topless Pulp Fiction Appreciation Society. For more information visit thefreetempest.com.
(Updated September 7, 2016)