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

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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

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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

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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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For Immediate Release
Seasonal Staff Positions Available with New Muses
New Muses seeks to fill seasonal staff positions for summer of 2014 and the beginning of the 2014-15 Season

TACOMA, WA: New Muses is pleased to announce openings to join our staff for the summer of 2014 and beginning of the 2014-15 Season.  We are seeking energetic, team oriented, and artistically-minded individuals to take on the positions of Technical Director, Casting Director, Box Office Manager, and Director of Social Media and Marketing.  Full job descriptions are below:

If interested, please send a resume and letter of interest to Managing Artistic Director Niclas Olson at n.olson@newmuses.com.

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR:

Oversees and manages the technical aspects of all productions and events.  Responsible for organizing and recruiting volunteers to help with set construction, costumes, and other technical areas as requested by designers and the Managing Artistic Director.   Serves as master carpenter when necessary.  Coordinates and maintains production schedule in cooperation with the individual production teams.

Must possess strong organizational and leadership skills and a working knowledge of all technical aspects of theater production.  Knowledge of drafting is a plus.

Contract Length: July-September 2014
Contract Type: Volunteer

BOX OFFICE MANAGER:

Manages the New Muses box office, both online and on-site during events.  Responsible for tracking ticket sales, balancing and documenting cash sales, and coordinating front of house volunteers and ushers during productions and events.  Required availability on Sunday evenings throughout the summer and during regular performance hours through September.

Must possess strong organizational skills, cash-handling experience, exceptional customer service ability, and experience with computers and basic spreadsheets.

Contract Length: July – September 2014
Contract Type: Volunteer

Please Note: This position will require a background check.

CASTING DIRECTOR:

Organizes and runs casting calls for all productions.  Responsible for overseeing general auditions and callbacks, and maintaining clear communication with prospective cast members.  Manages audition schedules, callback lists, and casting files.  Makes recommendations to directors based on auditions, personal experience, and reference checks.  Responsible for making casting offers and finalizing contracts after directors have made their selections.  Works closely with individual directors and the Managing Artistic Director.

Must possess strong organizational skills, excellent command of grammar and the English language, and experience working with actors.

Contract Length: July – September 2014
Contract Type: Volunteer

DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND MARKETING

Maintains all New Muses social media pages, including but not limited too: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram.   Creates exciting and original social media content to grow our audience.  Works closely with the Managing Artistic Director to write copy and promote all productions, events, and fundraising efforts.  Supervises traditional theater marketing including but not limited to postering, email lists, and cross promotion with other arts groups.

Must possess a strong command of grammar and the English language, knowledge of social media, creativity and outside-the-box thinking, and strong organizational ability.

Please include links to social media pages with resume and cover letter.

Contract Length: July – September 2014
Contract Type: Volunteer

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.   In the summer of 2013 they produced Neil Labute’s The Shape of Things in Tacoma, WA.

For more information please visit www.NewMuses.com.

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For Immediate Release
New Logo for New Muses Theatre Company
New Muses unveils a new logo in anticipation of their 2014-15 season

TACOMA, WA - In anticipation of their 2014 - 2015 season, New Muses Theatre Company has unveiled a revamped logo and alternate logo for the company.

Replacing the gritty image used since the company was founded in 2009, the new logo offers clean lines and a mix of modern and classical sensibilities.   In the background the letters N and M join together across a horizon line to create the image of an abstracted proscenium arch and stage.  Emblazoned across the foreground is the company name.

The alternate logos feature a horizontal version with a smaller NM and the NM symbol without the company name.

The new logos have been designed to complement the typography used on company advertising since the 2011-12 season.  The logos will be put into service immediately and used in all advertising for remaining productions during the 2013-14 season and become fully integrated for the 2014-15 season.

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.   In the summer of 2013 they produced Neil Labute’s The Shape of Things in Tacoma, WA.

For more information please visit www.NewMuses.com.

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For Immediate Release
New Muses Theatre Company cancels Angels in America
New Muses Theatre Company’s production of Tony Kushner’s Angels in America: Millennium Approaches has been cancelled due to casting issues.

TACOMA, WA- New Muses Theatre Company has cancelled their upcoming production of Tony Kushner’s Angels in America: Millennium Approaches after a fruitless casting search of the South Sound.  The production was scheduled to open on August 16 and run for three weeks at the Dukesbay Theater. 

Managing Artistic Director Niclas R. Olson informed the confirmed members of the cast of the decision in a letter last week.  He wrote:

 “As a producer of independent theatre one is forced to believe that good actors will be drawn to good scripts.  However, to my great dismay, this time that wonderful notion has been proved incorrect.  I applaud you for your willingness to take a risk not only on a small theatre company like ours, but on a script that truly exemplifies our mission of intelligent, thought-provoking, and engaging theatre for a contemporary audience.  You are the reason we continue to produce scripts like Angels.

All that being said, Angels in America is not going to disappear from our radar as a company or from my own mind as a director.  Angels was the first script chosen for our season back in mid-November of last year and I feel strongly that this play will be in the discussion for our next full season and as a project during the “off-season” to come.  In many ways, Angels inspired this season and it breaks my heart to pull it from the boards, but that is the danger of producing this type of theater and we will move on and persevere.”

The official announcement of the cancellation was delayed as a replacement project was sought.  However due to the time constraints involved, the company has decided to go dark and focus on our upcoming production of Shakespeare’s ROMEO/JULIET.

Season ticket holders will be sent a refund for the production. 

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.  The 2013 Summer Repertory Season will be their first in the new Dukesbay Theater, a 35-seat black box located at the top of the Merlino Art Center in Tacoma, WA.  The 2013 season will consist of Shakespeare’s Romeo/Juliet, Angels in America: Millennium Approaches by Tony Kushner, and Neil Labute’s The Shape of Things.

For more information please visit www.NewMuses.com.

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For Immediate Release
New Muses Theatre Company bringing summer season to Tacoma
New Muses 2013 summer season to include productions of:
Neil Labute’s The Shape of Things,
Tony Kushner’s Angels in America: Millennium Approaches
Shakespeare’s Romeo/Juliet 

TACOMA, WA -- Managing artistic director Niclas R. Olson is pleased to announce that New Muses Theatre Company will be bringing a summer season to Tacoma, WA from July to October of 2013.  Featuring three productions in the new Dukesbay Theater, located on the top floor of the Merlino Art Center, the season will include Neil Labute’s The Shape of Things, Tony Kushner’s Pulitzer Prize winning Angels in America: Millennium Approaches and Shakespeare’s Romeo/Juliet.  Founded in 2009, New Muses is committed to producing intelligent, thought-provoking, and engaging theatre for a contemporary audience.

“We are thrilled to be bringing our brand of independent fringe theatre to Tacoma.” says Olson, “The season promises to be an exciting and meaningful experience for both the audience and our creative teams with these three incredible scripts.  The Shape of Things is a wonderful examination of love, manipulation, and art that sets the tone perfectly for the season as a whole.   I cannot wait to discover the epic beauty of Kushner’s Angels in America in the intimacy of the Dukesbay Theater.  This tragic and beautiful story won the Pulitzer and Tony award twenty years ago and we are so excited to be bringing it to life again for this special anniversary presentation.  And finally, we once again look to re-discover the works of Shakespeare with our presentation of Romeo/Juliet.  I’ve described this production as ‘Romeo and Juliet for the social network age’ and cannot wait to experience this timeless love story with a modern sensibility.”

ABOUT THE SHOWS:

THE SHAPE OF THINGS: Neil Labute’s The Shape of Things, a dark romantic comedy for a modern age, is a piercing examination of the modern ideals of love, art, and manipulation by one of America’s premiere dramatists.  How far would you go for love?  What about art?

The Shape of Things runs for three weekends from July 12 - 28 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 and Sundays at 2:00 in the Dukesbay Theater 508 6th Ave #10, Tacoma.

ANGELS IN AMERICA: MILLENNIUM APPROACHES: Tony Kushner's Angels in America is a pulsing, epic, fantastic, and ultimately human look at the AIDS crisis in the late eighties. Hailed by critics as “Daring and dazzling! The most ambitious play of our time.” (Newsweek) and winner of the 1993 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Kushner's play is widely regarded as a modern masterpiece. New Muses Theatre Company is excited to bring this work to the stage in an intimate production for a modern audience.

Angels in America: Millennium Approaches runs for three weekends from August 16- September 1 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 and Sundays at 2:00 at the Dukesbay Theater 508 6th Ave #10, Tacoma.

Angels in America: Millennium Approaches will be directed by Niclas R. Olson.

ROMEO/JULIET: New Muses Theatre Company is pleased to present a fresh modern take on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Set in the present, this groundbreaking presentation has been described as “Romeo and Juliet for the social-network age.” Utilizing a mix of multi-media and live theatrical performance Romeo/Juliet promises to be a night in the theater you will not soon forget.

Romeo/Juliet runs for three weekends from September 20 – October 6 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 and Sundays at 2:00 at the Dukesbay Theater 508 6th Ave #10, Tacoma.

Romeo/Juliet will be Co-Directed by Brie Yost and Niclas R. Olson from a concept and adaptation by Mr. Olson.

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.  The 2013 Summer Repertory Season will be their first in the new Dukesbay Theater, a 35-seat black box located at the top of the Merlino Arts Center in Tacoma, WA.  The 2013 season will consist of Shakespeare’s Romeo/Juliet, Angels in America: Millennium Approaches by Tony Kushner, and Neil Labute’s The Shape of Things.

For more information please visit www.NewMuses.com.

Individual tickets will be on sale soon at $15 per person, and for the first time New Muses will offer a season ticket package for all three shows with a special introductory price of only $33 for the entire season.

SCHEDULE:

July 12 – 28, 2013
The Shape of Things
By Neil Labute | Directed by Niclas R. Olson
Opening Night: July 12, 2013

August 16 – September 1, 2013
Angels in America: Millennium Approaches
By Tony Kushner | Directed by Niclas R. Olson
Opening Night: August 16, 2013

September 20 – October 6, 2013
Romeo/Juliet
By William Shakespeare, adapted with a new concept by Mr. Olson | Directed by Brie Yost and Niclas R. Olson
Opening Night: September 20, 2013

All 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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