MEDEA | PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Penny Landau | 212.366.4345

  Maya Public Relations, Inc.

Take Wing And Soar Productions presents Euripides’ MEDEA,

Starring Tony Award Winning Actress Trezana Beverley,

in a new translation by Nicholas Rudall, Directed by Petronia

Paley at The National Black Theatre | February 15th - March 2nd

[New York, NY - January 21, 2008] Take Wing And Soar Productions proudly presents Euripides’ MEDEA, at the National Black Theatre, from February 15th - March 2nd. In a new translation by Nicholas Rudall & directed by Petronia Paley, MEDEA stars Tony Award Winning actress Trezana Beverley.

In this masterly written drama of passion, suffering and the sensitivity of injured love are strongly drawn, until they culminate in the awful deed of vengeance. Veteran classical actress & director Petronia Paley leads The TWAS Classical Actors of Color as they join Tony Award Winning Actress Trezana Beverley* in the role of Medea, who will stop at nothing to repay Jason for the ultimate betrayal of his family and the woman he promised to love forever. Joining her in the starring roles are Ian Stuart*, Renauld White* & Dathan B. Williams*.

Featured in the cast are David Heron, Mary E. Hodges*, Sharita Hunt*, Kebranagast Maxwell, Marishka Phillips*, Beverley Prentice, Kofi Samuels, Bryan Webster*, Natasha Yannacanedo*, & Ma'at Zachary.  Scenic Design is by Pavlo Bosyy, Costume Design by Ali Turns, Lighting Design by Joyce Liao, Sound Design by David D. Wright with original live music composed & performed by David D. Wright. Production Stage Manager is Norman Small.

Artistic Director and Producer of MEDEA is Debra Ann Byrd, Producer is Jacqueline Jeffries & Associate Producer is Flora Gillard.

Take Wing And Soar Productions, Inc. founded in 1999 by classically trained actress Debra Ann Byrd, is women-led New York State, 501(c) 3 Professional Theatre Arts Corporation, dedicated to supporting women, youth & classically trained actors of color. Take Wing And Soar Productions exists primarily to help classical actors of color to realize their full potential. Thanks to the generosity and support of Dr. Barbara Ann Teer, Take Wing And Soar Productions, Inc. has been a professional theatre company in residence at the National Black Theatre for the past four years. Take Wing And Soar Productions is a Member Organization of The Arts and Business Council, the Harlem Arts Alliance and the Alliance of Resident Theatres New York. For more information about TWAS Inc. visit us online at www.takewingandsoar.org

Trezana Beverley [Medea] won the 1976 Tony Award for her performance in the Broadway production of For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enuf. Ms. Beverley has since created a unique signature in the American theatre. She is not only recognized as one of our. . . Read More >>

Ian Stuart [Aegeus] was last seen at TWAS in the Classical Lab presentation of Oroonoko. Theatrical credits include Broadway (Caesar & Cleopatra, Run For Your Wife, Racing Demon) & Off-Broadway, London's West End . . . Read More >>

Renauld White [Tutor] is an actor & model & was the first African-American man on the cover of GQ Magazine. His other credits include Caesar in Julius Caesar & Olokun in Obatala, both Off-Broadway.

Dathan B. Williams [Jason] was recently seen as Sgt. Foley in the musical reading of An Officer & A Gentleman at Amas & as Teddy Horne Sr. in Stormy Weather, Imagining Lena Horne at The Prince Music Theater. . . Read More >>

Petronia Paley [Director] was last seen as Dr. Selene Slater-Bernaud in The Ensemble Studio Theatre’s On The Way To Timbuktu. Other roles include Clytemnestra in the Classical Theatre of Harlem's Electra (Audelco Award Winner), Gertrude in Hamlet (Take Wing And Soar Productions) . . . Read More >>

*DENOTES MEMBER AEA

   DATES: February 15th – March 2nd

   TIMES: Wed – Sat @ 8pm, Sat @ 2pm & Sun @ 3pm

Opening Night Gala Performance February 19th @7pm

  THEATRE:   National Black Theatre ~ North Tower

  2031 Fifth Avenue @ 125th Street

  TICKETS:   Gala Performance $50; General Admission $18 Adults;

  Students & Seniors $15; TDF Vouchers Accepted; Group Sales Available.

RESERVATIONS: SmartTix (212) 868-4444 or www.smarttix.com

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