Serenbe Playhouse will present the second show in its 2016 Intimate Indoors season, Art by Yasmina Reza and translated by Christopher Hampton, September 8-11 at the Atlanta Contemporary, an art center in Atlanta.
Directed by Ryan Oliveti, the cast will feature Adam Fristoe as Marc, Daniel Parvis as Yvan and Daviorr Snipes as Serge.
“Staying true to our mission of being site specific, we are bringing The Playhouse into the city,” says Brian Clowdus, Serenbe’s founder and artistic/executive director. “Titles that would never make sense outside but still flourish in an intimate indoor setting is what this new series it all about. 75% of our audience resides in metro Atlanta, and we’re excited to bring what we do on an intimate scale into the City! We foresee this also tapping into a new audience demographic with strategic partners like Atlanta Contemporary proving that theatre can happen anywhere and that it truly is for everyone.”
Art, according to Serenbe, “is a Tony Award winning play that looks at the worlds of art and friendship and how they collide. Serge has bought an expensive painting which is all white with white diagonal lines. To Marc, the painting is a joke. Serge insists Marc doesn't have the proper standard to judge the work. Yvan, though burdened by his own problems, allows himself to be pulled into the disagreement. Lines are drawn as three old friends square off over the canvas, using it as an excuse to relentlessly batter one another over various failures.”
Director Oliveti adds, “When the Playhouse staff was first brainstorming fabulous locations in Atlanta, the Atlanta Contemporary instantly came to mind. The Playhouse has received a reputation for putting a fresh spin on classics. What better way to immerse an audience than plopping them down in the mist of a fresh, stunning art gallery? In a truly magical way, by surrounding the audience in art, it lets the art fade away to reveal the true heart of the story – friendship. I could not be more excited to bring this funny and deeply moving story to Atlanta.”
The creative team also includes costume designer Jennifer Alice Acker, sound and lighting designer William Coady and properties designer Clowdus.
Serenbe Playhouse is the recipient of the American Theatre Wing’s 2015 National Theatre Company Grant. The company is known for putting on immersive productions. Read about the recent production of Miss Saigon, which flew in a real Vietnam helicopter.
The Atlanta Contemporary is located at 535 Means Street NW in Atlanta, GA. For more information and tickets, visit SerenbePlayhouse.com or call (770) 463-1110.
