U-M grads planning Off-Broadway premiere of 'The Man with American Skin'
U-M grad and playwright Seth Moore will premiere a new work, "The Man with American Skin," Off-Broadway this summer.
"The Man" tells the story of a lonely artist suffering the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and the soldier who brings him back from the brink.
According to the show's Kickstarter page, "The show takes place in a dilapidated apartment, complete with kitchen, bathroom, bare beams, and rotting drywall. But through a chance turn of events, the apartment itself is turned into a camera obscura, and an image of the outside world is thrown up onto one of the crumbling walls. The actors then interact with this projection in variety of ways that are pretty breathtaking to behold."
Alex Bisker directs/produces the show; Justin Lang (who previously designed Moore’s original play, “Jonesin’,” at U-M) is the production designer; Stephanie Schechter is the production manager and producer; Nathan Lehmann is co-producer; and Leigh Adel-Arnold is a co-producer.
The show is slated to open Aug. 16 as part of the 2012 Araca Project, at the American Theatre of Actors at 314 W. 54th St. in New York City, and tickets ($25 each) are on sale now at the show’s website. Those who can’t travel to New York, but are still interested in seeing the play, can get a “digital ticket” by way of a $25 contribution on the show’s Kickstarter fundraising page.
Here’s Blue Fire Productions’ video preview, which appears on the group’s Kickstarter page.
The Kickstarter page noted that the project will only be funded if at least $10,000 is pledged by Monday, July 30 at 2:29 p.m.
The Araca Project, according to "Man"'s site, "joins Syracuse University and the University of Michigan in The Araca Group's commitment to early career development. After pitching their projects in April, selected participants spend two weeks of June in a Producing Intensive before producing their work at The American Theatre for Actors in New York City. By giving artists the opportunity to take on the full artistic and fiscal responsibilities of producing their work Off-Broadway, The Araca Project endeavors to embolden these artists to recognize the power of the entrepreneurial spirit in shaping one’s artistic destiny."
Jenn McKee is the entertainment digital journalist for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at jennmckee@annarbor.com or 734-623-2546, and follow her on Twitter @jennmckee.