For Immediate Release

TACOMA, WA: New Muses Theatre Company has rescheduled their one-night-only staged reading of William Shakespeare’s THE TEMPEST. The production, originally scheduled for July 8th, will now close the season on the evening of August 26th.

Managing Artistic Director Niclas Olson explained the change, saying, “Unlike many of the titles we feature in our staged reading series, THE TEMPEST is a show that we are expecting to have life beyond a single performance. We’re treating this presentation as a workshop for a production that will potentially tour the region in the next several years. With the timeline we were under to hit the July 8 deadline it became apparent that we were doing a disservice to the show and our audience by rushing it to the stage. We look forward to seeing everyone in August as we finally reveal the show to the public.

New Muses current production of Aristophanes’ LYSISTRATA continues performances through July 15 and will be followed by the classic Yiddish drama GOD OF VENGEANCE.

***

For Immediate Release

New Muses Theatre Company has postponed their upcoming production of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

TACOMA, WA: New Muses Theatre Company’s presentation of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest will be postponed to a later date in the season.  Managing Artistic Director Niclas Olson cited scheduling conflicts with the creative team as the reason for postponement. Olson is currently working on booking a new venue and confirming revised performance dates. Speaking of the schedule change he said, “Postponement is always a tough decision, but it became obvious that our team needed more time to prepare their vision for this beautiful script. I can’t wait to bring this show to life and share Shakespeare’s magical story with our audience.”
 
New Muses season will return to the Dukesbay Theater as scheduled this summer with Arisophanes’ Lysistrata and Sholem Asch’s God of Vengeance.
 
ABOUT NEW MUSES:
Now in their ninth season, New Muses Theatre Company has produced works ranging from classics like THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, HAMLET, and FRANKENSTEIN to contemporary plays by Neil Labute, Wallace Shawn, and Michael Frayn.  Dedicated to producing intelligent, thought-provoking and engaging theatre for a contemporary audience, New Muses balances their trademark re-interpretations of classic works with contemporary plays and challenging works featured in the One-Night-Only staged reading series.  New Muses is excited to continue residence in Tacoma’s Dukesbay Theater for the of the 2017-18 season.
 
For more information please visit www.NewMuses.com
 
SCHEDULE:
 
June 29 - July 15, 2018
LYSISTRATA
By Aristophanes
Adapted and Directed by Niclas Olson
Opening Night: June 29, 2018
Dukesbay Theater, Tacoma
 
August 10-26, 2018
GOD OF VENGEANCE
By Sholem Asch
Adapted and Directed by Niclas Olson
Opening Night: August 10, 2018
Dukesbay Theater, Tacoma
 
THE TEMPEST
By William Shakespeare
Adapted and Directed by Niclas Olson
Dates and Venue to be announced
 
PRESS CONTACT:
Niclas Olson
info@newmuses.com
253-254-5530

###

Tacoma, WA: The Ghostlight Project will bring together over 500 participating organizations in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. From Broadway to high school auditoriums, members of the theater community will gather from coast to coast on January 19, 2017 at 5:30 p.m. in each time zone to light a light and make a pledge. Inspired by the theatrical tradition of keeping a “ghost light” on in a darkened theater, we create light for the challenging times ahead.
 
Said Niclas Olson, Managing Artistic Director: “The New Muses mission statement is: ‘New Muses Theatre Company is dedicated to providing intelligent, thought-provoking, and engaging theatre for a contemporary audience.’ Through continuing our traditions of gender and colorblind casting, the pay-what-you-can affordable ticket initiative launching this season, and a further commitment to programming which speaks to the issues currently facing our world, we will continue and expand our efforts to engage with current issues from the stage.”
 
Olson continues, “New Muses is, and will forever remain, a safe place for every audience member, artist, and employee regardless of race, class, religion, political preference, country of origin, immigration status, (dis)ability, age, gender identity, or sexual orientation. We cannot guarantee what will happen in the rest of the world, but know that you will always be welcome with us. ”
 
From Saheem Ali, Director and member of the Ghostlight Project Steering Committee:
"The act of expressing something out loud has significance. [It] demonstrates solidarity and a firmness of belief. Our most solemn ceremonies—weddings, graduations, ordinations—are by design public and communal because they demand witnesses. By standing outside the privacy afforded by one’s four walls and declaring something in full voice, one asks to be held accountable for the stance being taken."
 
Speaking on future plans, Olson said that because the companies primary source of action is the works they stage, he invites everyone to recommend scripts they feel are relevant to the issues of contemporary society. Contact information for Mr. Olson and other members of the company staff can be found on their website. For further information on the ghostlight project you can visit the main website at www.theghostlightproject.com.

***

For Immediate Release

TACOMA, WA: New Muses Theatre Company has released full cast lists for their upcoming productions of Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House and Ghosts. The two plays will be performing in a rotating schedule from April 28 thru May 22 at the Dukesbay Theater in Tacoma.
 
A Doll’s House will be led by frequent New Muses performer Katelyn Hoffman (New Muses’ Miss Julie, Last Night of Ballyhoo at TLT) in the role of Nora. She will be joined by an exciting ensemble of local performers including Ryan St. Martin (The Glass Menagerie with 4th Wall Players) as her husband Torvald. Kathryn Philbrook (She Kills Monsters with TART) as Mrs. Linde, Ben Stahl (Arcadia at Lakewood Playhouse) as Dr. Rank, Emily Robinson (New Muses’ Romeo and Juliet) as Anne, and Managing Artistic Director Niclas Olson as Krogstad. Said Olson, who also directs both productions from his own adaptations, “I’m thrilled to be working with this talented cast. They bring a wide range of talent and experiences and we’re really putting together something special.”
 
Leading the cast of Ghosts will be Seattle based actor Carrie Schnelker as Mrs. Alving. She will be joined by local favorites John Kelleher (Les Miserables at TMP) as Pastor Manders and Eric Cuestas-Thompson (Lakewood’s Death of a Salesman) as Engstrand. Rounding out the cast will be newcomer Monica Lorin as Regina and Olson as prodigal son Oswald.
 
Olson explains that he decided to program the two plays in a rotating schedule to allow conversation between the two scripts. “When Ibsen experienced the backlash from A Doll’s House,” Olson explains, “he responded with Ghosts, a play that imagines a different sort of circumstances in a traditional marriage. While A Doll’s House is all about Nora gathering the courage to leave her marriage, Ghosts is about the aftermath of Mrs. Alving deciding to stay. I read a quote last year that said Ibsen wrote Mrs. Alving because he wasn’t finished with Nora after A Doll’s House and looking at the two scripts together the parallels are fascinating.”
 
A Doll’s House sent shockwaves through society after premiering in 1879.  Nora is a housewife and mother, living an idyllic life with her husband and three children. But when a debt from her past rises up on Christmas Eve, the web of secrets and oppression underneath their happy existence begins to fray. As Nora fights to control the fallout from each revelation, she finds a growing passion for life and self-determination that will change everything.
 
Playing in repertory with Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, New Muses brings another controversial masterpiece to the stage with Ibsen’s next play Ghosts. Years after her husband’s death, Helene Alving is preparing to open an orphanage in his honor. With the arrival of an old friend, Pastor Manders and her son Oswald the carefully guarded secrets Mrs. Alving has been keeping about her husband begin to unravel. As the sins of the father, and their consequences, become painfully clear, Mrs. Alving is left to question her life, her relationships, and whether or not she will ever be able to escape the spectres of the past.
 
A Doll’s House and Ghosts will run in rotating repertory from April 28-May 22 at the Dukesbay Theater (508 6th Ave, Tacoma). Performances will be Thursday thru Saturday evenings at 8pm with Sunday matinees at 2pm. There will be two additional matinees on Saturdays May 7 and 14 at 2pm. Tickets for these productions will be sold at a discounted rate of $10. Full performance schedule and presale tickets are available at www.NewMuses.com.
 
ABOUT NEW MUSES:
Now in their seventh season, New Muses Theatre Company has produced works ranging from classics like THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, HAMLET, and DOCTOR FAUSTUS to contemporary plays by Neil Labute, Wallace Shawn, and Michael Frayn.  Dedicated to producing intelligent, thought-provoking and engaging theatre for a contemporary audience, New Muses balances their trademark re-interpretations of classic works with contemporary plays and challenging works featured in the One-Night-Only staged reading series.  New Muses is excited to take up residence in Tacoma’s Dukesbay Theater for the entirety of the 2015-16 mainstage season.
 
For more information please visit www.NewMuses.com
 
SCHEDULE:
 
April 28 - May 14, 2016
A DOLL’S HOUSE
By Henrik Ibsen
Adapted and Directed by Niclas Olson
Opening Night: April 28, 2016
Dukesbay Theater, Tacoma
 
May 5 - 22, 2016
GHOSTS
By Henrik Ibsen
Adapted and Directed by Niclas Olson
Opening Night: May 5, 2016
Dukesbay Theater, Tacoma
 
PRESS CONTACT:
Niclas Olson
info@newmuses.com
253-254-5530

###

For Immediate Release

TACOMA, WA: Managing Artistic Director Niclas Olson today announced New Muses Theatre Company will be holding general auditions for all shows in the 2015-16 Season on November 8th and 9th, 2015 at the Dukesbay Theater in Tacoma.  Speaking about the season audition opportunity, Olson said, “With the size of our season this year, it became obvious that we needed to condense the audition process to allow our creative teams to focus on their productions rather than spending a huge amount of time between productions on casting.  And, as a working actor myself, I always appreciate being able to plan out my season well in advance and take the audition stress off the table.”
 
Auditioners will be asked to prepare 2 contrasting monologues or a monologue and 16 bars of a song.  Audition pieces should be no more than 2 minutes combined.  An accompanist will be provided for the Monday the 9th audition time slot, actors who sing on the 8th will be required to provide taped accompaniment, please no acapella auditions.
 
Callbacks will be scheduled by appointment.
 
To schedule an audition time, please send a headshot, resume, and your preferred audition date to casting@newmuses.com. 
 
Actors who cannot make the regularly scheduled audition dates, but would still like to be considered, are requested to contact info@newmuses.com to set up an alternate audition date.
 
Roles available:
 
ROMEO AND JULIET
By William Shakespeare
First Rehearsal: Dec 7 or 14, 2015 (dependent on cast holiday availability)
Opening: January 15
Closing: January 31
 
JULIET (F, 19-25)
BENVOLIO (M or F, 20-30)
MERCUTIO (M or F, 20-30)
TYBALT (M, 20-30s)
NURSE (F, 40+)
CAPULET (M, 40+)
LADY CAPULET (F, 40+)
FRIAR LAURENCE (M, 35+)
PRINCE (M or F, Late 20s-40s)
 
*The role of ROMEO has been cast
 
A DOLL’S HOUSE*
By Henrik Ibsen
First Rehearsal: March 21
Opening: April 28
Closing: May 14
 
NORA (F, 25-35)
TORVALD (M, 25-35)
MRS. LINDE (F, Late 20s-30s)
KROGSTAD (M, Late 20s-30s)
DR. RANK (M, 40+)
ANNE (F, 40+)
MAID (F, 18+)
 
*Runs in repertory with GHOSTS
^Youth auditions for A DOLL’S HOUSE and FINIAN’S RAINBOW will be held at a later date.
 
GHOSTS*
By Henrik Ibsen
 
MRS. ALVING (F, 40+)
OSWALD (M, 20+)
MANDERS (M, 40+)
ENGSTRAND (M, 40+)
REGINA (F, 20+)
 
*Runs in repertory with A DOLL’S HOUSE
 
INTO THE WOODS^
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by James Lapine
First Rehearsal: May 9
Opening: June 17
Closing: July 3
 
NARRATOR (M, Any Age) G2-E4
CINDERELLA (F, 20-30) G3-G5
JACK’S MOTHER (F, 40+) Bb3-Gb5
BAKER (M, 30-45) Ab2-G4
BAKER’S WIFE (F, 30-45) F3-G5
CINDERELLA’S STEPMOTHER (F, 40+) A3-F#5
FLORINDA and LUCINDA (F, 25-35) C4-Ab5
LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD (F, 15-20) Bb3-F5
WITCH (F, 40+) F3-G5
CINDERELLA’S MOTHER (F, 40+) E4-F4
MYSTERIOUS MAN (M, 50+) G2-Eb4
WOLF / CINDERELLA’S PRINCE (M, 25-35) Bb2-Gb4
RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE (M, 25-35) C#3-E4
RAPUNZEL (F, 20-30) B3-A5
GIANT (F, 40+) Speaking Role
 
Performed by a flexible small cast, most roles will double.  The role of JACK has been cast.
 
^Rights pending
 
FINIAN’S RAINBOW^
Book by E.Y. Harburg and Fred Saidy
Lyrics by E.Y. Harburg
Music by Burton Lane
First Rehearsal: June 27
Opening: August 5
Closing: August 22
 
FINIAN McLONERGAN (M, 45+ Baritone)
SHARON McLONERGAN (F, 20s Soprano)
WOODY MAHONEY (M, 20s-early 30s Baritenor)
OG (M, 20s-early 30s Tenor)
SENATOR BILLBOARD RAWKINS (M, White, 40+ Non-Singing)
JIM RAWKINS (M, African American, 40+ Baritone)
BUZZ COLLINS (M, White, 25+ Non-Singing)
SHERIFF (M, White, 25+ Non-Singing)
SUSAN MAHONEY (F, 18-25, Non-Singing, Strong Dancer)
 
ADULT ENSEMBLE (M/F All ages): Multi-Ethnic ensemble of strong singers, dancers, and character actors needed.
 
*Youth auditions for A DOLL’S HOUSE and FINIAN’s RAINBOW will be held at a later date.
 
^Rights pending
 
ABOUT NEW MUSES:
Now in their seventh season, New Muses Theatre Company has produced works ranging from classics like THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, HAMLET, and DOCTOR FAUSTUS to contemporary plays by Neil Labute, Wallace Shawn, and Michael Frayn.  Dedicated to producing intelligent, thought-provoking and engaging theatre for a contemporary audience, New Muses balances their trademark re-interpretations of classic works with contemporary plays and challenging works featured in the One-Night-Only staged reading series.  New Muses is excited to take up residence in Tacoma’s Dukesbay Theater for the entirety of the 2015-16 mainstage season.
 
PRESS CONTACT:
Niclas Olson
info@newmuses.com
253-254-5530

***

For Immediate Release

TACOMA, WA:  Fringe theatre company New Muses has announced plans to move their previously scheduled production of FINIAN’S RAINBOW to the 2015-16 season and mount August Strindberg’s MISS JULIE this July in its place. 

Said Managing Artistic Director Niclas Olson of the move, “We were really looking forward to FINIAN’S but with the exceptional number of musicals already in production in Tacoma this June and July it became clear that by moving the show to next season we could assemble a far stronger cast and deliver a much better show.  We want to thank everyone who supported the show and especially those who auditioned. Don’t worry; we won’t forget anyone when this show rolls around next year.  We have a strong production plan all ready to go and look forward to travelling to Glocca Morra in the future.” 

“As for MISS JULIE, “ Olson continued, “I’m personally a huge fan of Strindberg’s work and when looking for something else to move into this slot, it became clear that MISS JULIE would be a great choice.  It’s a small cast show with several really good parts and will be treat for both the audience and production team.”

MISS JULIE, written in 1888, is the story of a young countess in turn of the century Sweden.  Playwright August Strindberg weaves a spellbinding tale of seduction and intrigue as Miss Julie and her father’s valet, Jean, taunt and tease one another over the course of one steamy midsummer’s night until they reach the final and stunning conclusion.

MISS JULIE will run at the Dukesbay Theater (508 6th Ave #10, Tacoma) July 3 – 19 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm and Sundays at 2:00pm, with a special added performance on Thursday July 16 at 8:00pm and no performance on July 4.  Tickets will be sold at a discounted rate of $10 for this production.

New Muses’ 2014-15 season will continue over the summer with the second annual installment of the ONE-NIGHT-ONLY Staged Reading Series at various theaters around Tacoma.   The 2015-16 season (including updated dates for FINIAN’S RAINBOW) will be announced during the final staged reading of the season.

ABOUT THE COMPANY:

New Muses Theatre Company was founded in 2009 with a contract for a two-show season at the Roxy Theater in Morton, WA.  Over the next six seasons, and counting, the company has produced works ranging from classics like THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, HAMLET, and DOCTOR FAUSTUS to contemporary plays by Neil Labute, Wallace Shawn, and Michael Frayn.  In that time over 50 individual artists have had the opportunity to work as company members, many on multiple productions.  New Muses productions have been nominated for five Broadwayworld Seattle Awards and covered in newspapers from Olympia to Seattle.

For more information please visit www.NewMuses.com.

SCHEDULE:

July 3 - 19, 2015
Miss Julie
By August Strindberg
Adapted and Directed by Niclas Olson
Opening Night: July 3, 2015
Dukesbay Theater, Tacoma

Summer 2015
One-Night-Only Staged Reading Series
Various Theaters, Tacoma

PRESS CONTACT:
Niclas Olson | Managing Artistic Director
n.olson@newmuses.com
253.720.3486

###

TACOMA, WA:  Fringe theatre company New Muses will be returning to the Dukesbay Theater on September 5th with Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus. New Muses’ groundbreaking modern dress production will feature the original text layered over an ambitious technically driven production design.  Under the co-direction of Katherine Mahoney and Niclas Olson, a small cast led by Olson (New Muses Hamlet, The Farnsworth Invention at Lakewood Playhouse) as Faustus and Dylan Twiner (The Woman in Black at Lakewood Playhouse) as Mephistophilis will take on all the roles in a seamless blend of Elizabethan poetry, modern technical wizardry, and powerful classical acting.

In the play, bored with his life as an academic, John Faustus sells his soul to the devil in exchange for 24 years of absolute power and knowledge.   Joined by the devilish Mephistophilis, Faustus travels the world wielding his newfound power, until time is up and he must face the consequences of his deal with the devil.

A favorite of Elizabethan theater troupes, widely considered the best play of the era not written by Shakespeare, Doctor Faustus has endured the test of time due to it’s powerful language, characters, and exceptional parts for actors.  At one time, Faustus was infamous for its scenes of magic, with real devils rumored to have appeared during the summoning scenes, driving the audience and actors to hysteria.

Said Olson, also Managing Artistic Director of the company, “I’ve been looking for an excuse to do Faustus for years.  I fell in love with the script in college, to the point where I’ve been accumulating props over the years because, ‘that’ll be perfect for when I do Faustus.’  When the opportunity arose to program a new production for our September slot, Faustus seemed like the obvious choice to pull from the short list.  As we’ve been in rehearsal it’s been a real joy to see the show come together in an incredible mix of Elizabethan language, awesome leather trench coats, and a good helping of German death metal.  I think the Tacoma audience is really going to enjoy seeing the kind of edgy show that our local community theaters can’t take the risk of producing.”

Tickets for the production are currently available as part of a fundraising campaign through Tilt Open at a discounted rate of $10.  On August 29 they will go back up to the normal price of $15 and be available either through the New Muses website (www.NewMuses.com) or at the door on the day of performance.  Because seating in the Dukesbay Theater has been limited to 30 seats for this production, New Muses highly encourages audience members to reserve their seats before coming to the show.  Performances will run Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00 with Sunday matinees at 2:00pm.

ABOUT THE COMPANY:

New Muses Theatre Company is dedicated to producing intelligent, thought-provoking, and engaging theatre for a contemporary audience.

Founded in 2009, New Muses Theatre Company has produced works ranging from The Importance of Being Earnest and Hamlet to their recent Seattle production of Wallace Shawn’s The Fever, and Tacoma production of Neil Labute’s The Shape Of Things, their 2013-14 season recently concluded with staged readings of This Is Our Youth, On The Verge, and Copenhagen at various venues around Tacoma, WA.

For more information please visit www.NewMuses.com.

SCHEDULE:

September 5 – 21, 2014
Doctor Faustus
By Christopher Marlowe
Directed by Katherine Mahoney and Niclas Olson
Opening Night: September 5, 2014
Dukesbay Theater, Tacoma

PRESS CONTACT:
Niclas Olson | Managing Artistic Director
n.olson@newmuses.com
253.720.3486

###

For Immediate Release

New Muses’ R.U.R. fails to reach funding goal.  Replacement project to be announced.
New Muses Theatre Company’s kickstarter campaign to bring R.U.R. to Tacoma fails to reach it’s funding goal.  Replacement project to be announced this Sunday during reading of On The Verge at Tacoma Little Theater.

TACOMA, WA:  Fringe theater company New Muses has announced that their crowdfunding campaign to bring Karel Capek’s sci-fi drama R.U.R. to the Dukesbay Theater in September has fallen short of it’s goal, and will be cancelled.  The company will announce a replacement project this Sunday before their staged reading of Eric Overmeyer’s On The Verge at Tacoma Little Theater.

Niclas Olson, Managing Artistic Director, released the following statement, “We’d like to thank everyone who supported our vision of bringing science fiction to Tacoma with R.U.R.  One of the reasons we choose to finance this production through Kickstarter was to gauge the interest of the local audience, and in that sense, we have succeeded.  By finding out now that this is not the type of theater the Tacoma audience wants to see, we find ourselves in a much better financial situation than if we had pushed forward with a full production and then failed to attract an audience.  While we were truly hoping that R.U.R. would be a success, the replacement project that will be announced this Sunday is incredibly exciting and we can’t wait to get started on our next big adventure.”

The replacement project will directly take the place of R.U.R. in the season with an opening date of September 5 and three week run at the Dukesbay Theater concluding on September 21.  The entire cast and crew of R.U.R. has been given the option of continuing with the company on the new project.

ABOUT THE COMPANY:

New Muses Theatre Company is dedicated to producing intelligent, thought-provoking, and engaging theatre for a contemporary audience.

Founded in 2009, New Muses Theatre Company has produced works ranging from The Importance of Being Earnest and Hamlet to their recent Seattle production of Wallace Shawn’s The Fever, and Tacoma production of Neil Labute’s The Shape Of Things.  Upcoming events include the 2014 One-Night-Only staged reading series and Karel Capek’s R.U.R.

For more information please visit www.NewMuses.com.

SCHEDULE:

One–Night-Only Staged Reading Series 2014

August 3, 2014 at 7:00pm
On The Verge
By Eric Overmeyer | Directed by Niclas Olson
Tacoma Little Theatre, Tacoma

August 17, 2014 at 7:00pm
Copenhagen
By Michael Frayn | Directed by Niclas Olson
Lakewood Playhouse, Lakewood

2014-15 Mainstage Season

September 5 – 21, 2014
To Be Announced
Directed by Katherine Mahoney and Niclas Olson
Opening Night: September 5, 2014
Dukesbay Theater, Tacoma

PRESS CONTACT:
Niclas Olson | Managing Artistic Director
n.olson@newmuses.com
253.720.3486

###

For Immediate Release

TACOMA, WA: New Muses Theatre Company’s 2014 One-Night-Only staged reading series is set to begin performances this Sunday, July 27th, with Kenneth Lonergan’s “This Is Our Youth” at Tacoma Little Theatre.  The staged reading series will feature Pay-What-You-Can performances of contemporary plays at different venues in the Tacoma area through the end of the summer.

Encompassing forty-eight hours in the lives of three lost young souls at the dawn of the Reagan Era: Warren Straub, a dejected nineteen-year-old who steals fifteen thousand dollars from his abusive lingerie-tycoon father; Dennis Ziegler, the charismatic domineering drug-dealing friend who helps him put the money to good use; and Jessica Goldman, the anxiously insightful young woman Warren yearns for, "This Is Our Youth" is a living snapshot of the moment between adolescence and adulthood when many young people first go out into the world on their own.

The one night performance will feature a cast of some of the best talent in Tacoma, Jacob Tice ("Arsenic and Old Lace" at Lakewood Playhouse, "Moonlight and Magnolias" at TLT) as Dennis, Niclas Olson ("The Farnsworth Invention" and "Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf " at Lakewood Playhouse, New Muses’ "The Shape of Things") as Warren and Katherine Mahoney ("Twelfth Night" at Lakewood Playhouse, "How I Learned to Drive" at PLU) as Jessica.

Olson, Managing Artistic Director of New Muses, was thrilled to talk about the upcoming performance, saying, “We’re really looking forward to bringing this play to TLT and Tacoma for a night.  Beyond being a really good piece of writing, it hits on a lot of issues about economics and youth culture that we really don’t get a chance to talk about much in theater.  All three parts are just incredible and we’ve managed to assemble a great ensemble to tell this story.  If you like out-of-the-box theater, as we so affectionately call edgy work around here, this is really something you don’t want to miss.”

New Muses does express that "This Is Our Youth" is intended for a mature audience and contains strong language and themes that may be unsuitable for children and sensitive individuals.

ABOUT THE COMPANY:

New Muses Theatre Company is dedicated to producing intelligent, thought-provoking, and engaging theatre for a contemporary audience.

Founded in 2009, New Muses Theatre Company has produced works ranging from The Importance of Being Earnest and Hamlet to their recent Seattle production of Wallace Shawn’s The Fever, and Tacoma production of Neil Labute’s The Shape Of Things.  Upcoming events include the 2014 One-Night-Only staged reading series and Karel Capek’s R.U.R.

For more information please visit www.NewMuses.com.

SCHEDULE:

One–Night-Only Staged Reading Series 2014

July 27, 2014 at 7:00pm
This Is Our Youth
By Kenneth Lonergan | Directed by Niclas Olson
Tacoma Little Theatre, Tacoma

August 3, 2014 at 7:00pm
On The Verge
By Eric Overmeyer | Directed by Niclas Olson
Tacoma Little Theatre, Tacoma

August 17, 2014 at 7:00pm
Copenhagen
By Michael Frayn | Directed by Niclas Olson
Lakewood Playhouse, Lakewood

2014-15 Mainstage Season

September 5 – 21, 2014
R.U.R.
By Karel Capek  |  Adapted and Directed by Niclas Olson
Opening Night: September 5, 2014
Dukesbay Theater, Tacoma

PRESS CONTACT:
Niclas Olson | Managing Artistic Director
n.olson@newmuses.com
253.720.3486

###

For Immediate Release

TACOMA, WA -- Managing Artistic Director Niclas Olson is pleased to announce the launch of New Muses first ever crowd-funding campaign to bring R.U.R. to the Dukesbay Theater in September.  A Czech play written in 1920, with Broadway and London productions the following year, R.U.R. not only invented the word “robot,” but laid the groundwork for the massive outpouring of apocalyptic science fiction to follow.  New Muses is excited to bring this incredible piece of literature to the stage, but is seeking help from the local audience to make it so.  Contributions will help cover the technical aspects of the production such as sets, costumes, and lighting.

Contributors will be able to secure complimentary tickets for the production, as well as priority access to reserved seating, as well as the possibility of taking home limited edition posters and signed copies of the original script adaptation being created specifically for this production.  New Muses is also opening up the possibility of sponsoring specific design elements and becoming a producer on the production.

“I’m really looking forward to this show,” says Olson, “It isn’t very often that I get to mix my love of theater with my not-so-secret love of science fiction, and to be able to do just that with a great script, and a historical script at that, is really exciting.  As much fun as it is to market the sci-fi aspects of the script, it’s actually a really great piece of political drama and touches on a ton of social issues from the time that are unfortunately still relevant today.  I’ve been looking for the right show to run a crowd-funding campaign on for a couple years now and this finally seemed like the right time and the right script.  I love that (crowd-funding) gets the local audience involved early on and let’s them really take ownership of the show before they step in the theater.  And it guarantees people a ticket, which is always good.”

The deadline for the funding campaign is midnight on July 31, 2014.  If funding is successful production will begin immediately to be ready for the September 5 opening.

Interested persons can find more information on the New Muses website (www.NewMuses.com) or by visiting Kickstarter and searching for R.U.R.

ABOUT THE SHOW:

Written in 1920, R.U.R. is a Czech play about a Rossum’s Universal Robot factory and what happens when the robots begin to develop human emotions, needs, and desires.  Of historical note, Karel Capek actually invented the word Robot for this play, marking the beginning of an entire genre of science fiction.

R.U.R. is scheduled to run for three weekends from September 5 – 21, 2014 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 and Sundays at 2:00 in the Dukesbay Theater 508 6th Ave #10, Tacoma.

ABOUT THE COMPANY:

New Muses Theatre Company is dedicated to producing intelligent, thought-provoking, and engaging theatre for a contemporary audience.

Founded in 2009, New Muses Theatre Company has produced works ranging from The Importance of Being Earnest and Hamlet to their recent Seattle production of Wallace Shawn’s The Fever, and Tacoma production of Neil Labute’s The Shape Of Things.  Upcoming events include the 2014 One-Night-Only staged reading series and Karel Capek’s R.U.R.

For more information please visit www.NewMuses.com.

SCHEDULE:

September 5 – 21, 2014
R.U.R.
By Karel Capek  |  Adapted and Directed by Niclas Olson
Opening Night: September 5, 2014

Performances at the new Dukesbay Theater, located in the Merlino Art Center at 508 6th Ave, Tacoma, WA.  Note: Programming and scheduling are subject to change.

PRESS CONTACT:

Niclas Olson
253-720-3486 | n.olson@newmuses.com

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