DISFIGURED PERFORMERS, EMBRACING THE FREAK" LABEL, QUESTION & REDEFINE THE NATURE OF ENTERTAINMENT. THE I AM NOT A FREAK Show OPENS TO NEW YORK AUDIENCES ON SEPTEMBER 14TH. PROTESTERS TRY TO STOP PRODUCTION.

Disfigured performers bring their theatrical tales of empowerment to The PIT Theatre in NYC for a 6-week run, opening September 14th, amid protests.

The enigmatic I AM NOT A FREAK Show is something of an anomaly in todays politically-correct theatre world. The show began its life in 1998 when Missouri philanthropist Randolph James Miller was literally moved to tears by a performance (by future cast member Kevin Kip Nevin) in a passing sideshow and saw the possibility of creating a new kind of performance: one part confessional, one part therapy, with a dash of drama and comedy. He teamed up with practicing drama therapist Don Purgin, forming the HEAL Therapy Program with a handful of afflicted" volunteers. The first performances were held in April, 2002 at the Westport Coffee House Theatre in Kansas City, MO.

Described as the first show to actually give voice to the thoughts and opinions of the mesmerizing people we commonly call 'freaks ," The I AM NOT A FREAK Show takes the idea of the traditional carnival freak show, turns it on its head, then reflects its twisted fun-house mirror image back at a voyeuristically curious audience. The result is a cross between the social monologues of Spalding Grey and Todd Brownings 1932 movie Freaks.

Audience members come in expecting a sensationalistic peep show. Instead, they experience a profound theatrical exhibition that addresses such topics as evolution, terror, God, obsession and self-fulfillment. What they come away with may change their lives." says cast member Clifton Epstein.

The show will begin its first NYC run at the PIT Theatre in Chelsea on September 7th.

Each of the 7 cast members suffer from various birth defects or diseases. This physically compelling cast of freaks" are afflicted with such physical deformities as: Proteus Syndrome, Osteodysplastic Primordial Dwarfism, Elaphantisis, Cushings Syndrome, Phocomelia, Scoliosis, and Idiopathic Neoplastic Transformation of the Mouth.

Although the performances at The PIT will constitute the first official New York run of the show, it is not the first time the show has been seen here. The I AM NOT A FREAK Show was performed as a one-night-only event at Surf Reality, in late 2002. Robert Prichard, proprietor of the now-closed venue says, It was one of the most daring and revolutionary shows Id ever seen. The I AM NOT A FREAK Show breaks the rules and lays it down for all to see."

Not everyone, however, is happy to see this show re-appearing in New York. A NYC-based group called Citizens Against Rampant Exploitation (www.stopexploitation.com) have been staging protests in Union Square, in an attempt to sway public opinion against the production.

The I AM NOT A FREAK Show
September 14-October 26; Sundays at 8:00 PM   
The PIT Theatre, 154 W. 29th Street, NYC
$15    212.563.7488 • www.iamnotafreakshow.com