Press Release
Off-Tryon Theatre Company
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Stan Peal at
gospelwidow@yahoo.com
BAREBONES THEATRE GROUP AND OFF-TRYON THEATRE COMPANY PRESENT
A CONCERT READING OF GOSPEL OF THE MESSIAH WIDOW BY STAN PEAL
MAY 3RD & 4TH
Stan Peal, a veteran Minneapolis playwright has birthed an unusual look at the possibilities of a world embracing the feminine side of Divinity. His GOSPEL OF THE MESSIAH WIDOW tells of the post-Pentecostal journey of Mary Magdalene who joins three Goddesses on an epic quest through ocean and stars, terrorist zealots, moonlight sensuality, pagan magic, and battles with angels to reclaim paradise and lift the curse of Eden. Paul Stone, an American student on a pilgrimage through Spain, records the fevered rantings of Helena, a young Spanish woman who channels the miraculous story of Mary. Through the amazing account, Paul discovers that somewhere between the Word and the Impulse is balance, between God and Goddess is creation, and between myth and history is Truth.
“Breathtaking… There is unexpected beauty to it.” – Max Sparber, Minneapolis City Pages
“A mythic alternative gospel… An entertaining piece of theater.” – Graydon Royce, Mpls Star Tribune
GOSPEL OF THE MESSIAH WIDOW was premiered in Minneapolis, February of 2001 by the Bald Alice Theatre Company and enjoyed critical and popular success. Stan Peal directed the production, which featured actor Laura Depta in the lead role of Mary Magdalene. Peal has a history of creating plays steeped in spiritual questions and legends turned inside-out. He pursues a commitment to writing scripts that provide great roles for women while celebrating the magic of the Divine Human experience. Peal’s other plays include JUGGLER TO THE KING, a Christmas musical that recreates the legend of the Juggler of Notre Dame as a comic prequel to Shakespeare’s Hamlet; EDEN, a one-act play featuring God as a black female architect; and STATE STREET, a one-man show about an alcoholic bongo player looking for chicks but finding God instead.
The concert reading of the play, produced in cooperation with Barebones and Off-Tryon will introduce this unique script to the Charlotte audience through some of the region’s best actors. Creative Loafing’s recent award winners Lorraine Larocque, Shelia Snow Proctor and Jim Yost; past CL award winners Scott Helm, Claire Whitworth-Helm and Peter Smeal; and future award winners Nicia Carla, Joe Copley, Joanna Gerdy, Julie Janorschke, Aaron Moore, Jose Ruiz, Mark Scarboro, and Elaine Spallone all join Laura Depta, who reprises the title role of Mary Magdalene. Stan Peal directs.
Performances are Friday and Saturday, May 3 & 4 at 8 p.m. at the Off-Tryon Theater, located at 3143 Cullman Avenue, just off 36th Street in the NoDa district. Suggested donation is $5.00. For more information, email gospelwidow@yahoo.com or visit www.geocities.com/gospelwidow on the internet.
Premiere Concert Reading
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