Renegade Theatre Experiment Presents the WORLD PREMIERE of WAITING TO DANCE by Erica Hemenway

Five women are brought to a room and reluctantly begin to share their tales in the hopes of answering the question of why they are there. As the women reveal more about themselves, what once seemed fairly clear suddenly becomes very complicated. Northern Californian playwright Erica Hemenway developed the play over the last seven years, a period which saw its creation and gestation. Her efforts have culminated in a collaboration with RTE to present the play's first full-fledged production.

San José, CA (PRWEB) January 14, 2006 –- Fulfilling its vision to “listen for new voices, and help them to be heard,” Renegade Theatre Experiment (RTE) rounds out its 2005 -2006 season with a world premiere: Erica Hemenway's WAITING TO DANCE. Directed by RTE founding member Whitney Stebbins, WAITING TO DANCE presents a chorus of female voices in a setting redolent of Pirandello.

Five women are brought to a room and reluctantly begin to share their tales in the hopes of answering the question of why they are there. As the women reveal more about themselves, what once seemed fairly clear suddenly becomes very complicated. Northern Californian playwright Erica Hemenway developed the play over the last seven years, a period which saw its creation and gestation. Her efforts have culminated in a collaboration with RTE to present the play's first full-fledged production.

Stebbins is thrilled to expose this unknown quantity and engage audiences in the play's reflections: “Each of the women embarks on a very personal journey, and I have the somewhat daunting job of guiding the audience through this complex maze of emotion – denial, sexuality, guilt, and irrevocable truth. The humanity of each of these women spoke to me, and I have no doubt that our audiences will enjoy accompanying them on their journey.”

Ironically, it is just this brand of personal identification that spawned the play in the first place. A provocative school assignment required Hemenway “to live as a character--any character--for one day on the streets of New York. I chose a character from one of my many short stories: a character named Janis. The exercise was so phenomenal, I decided to revisit other female characters from short stories I had written. I began to wonder what would happen if these characters met each other, how they would interact, what bonds they would form and what tensions would arise.”

Audiences can discover for themselves this winter at RTE, in another of the company's thrilling world premieres. WAITING TO DANCE previews on February 2, and runs February 3-5, 9-12, and 16-18, closing on February 18. Thursday through Saturday performances begin at 8:00pm, and Sunday matinees at 2pm at the historic Hoover Theatre in San José.

Tickets for WAITING TO DANCE are $18.00 General Admission (Thursdays and Sundays) and $20.00 General Admission (Fridays and Saturdays). Students and teachers, seniors, and Theatre Bay Area members qualify for discount tickets
($13/$15) with valid ID.

The Renegade Theatre Experiment (RTE) was founded in 2001 to bring edgy and entertaining new shows to the San José theatre community.

PUBLICITY PHOTOS: http://www.renegadetheatre.com/press
CONTACT: Whitney Stebbins
(408) 351-4440

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AN INVITATION TO THE MEDIA

Renegade Theatre Experiment proudly invites you
to attend our preview performance of
the World Premiere of WAITING TO DANCE.

WAITING TO DANCE by Erica Hemenway
February 2, 2006

Historic Hoover Theatre
1635 Park Avenue
San Jose, CA 95126

8:00 PM

This is a public preview with a paying audience.

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FACT SHEET

Renegade Theatre Experiment presents
the WORLD PREMIERE of
WAITING TO DANCE by Erica Hemenway

San José, CA, January 13, 2005

WHO: Renegade Theatre Experiment - San José-based theatre company with Bay Area cast. Cast: Misty Day, Beverley Griffith, Ogidi Obi, Kendra Owens, Gloria Belle Whaley, and Jaime Wolf. Directed by Whitney Quinn Stebbins.

WHAT: A journey of self-discovery with mystery, sexuality, and emotion.

WHY: Be the first to discover this world premiere by a Northern Californian playwright.

WHEN: February 2 (Pay-What-You-Can Preview) February 3-5, 9-12, and 16-18, closing on February 18. Thursday through Saturday performances begin at 8:00pm, and Sunday matinees at 2pm.

WHERE: Historic Hoover Theatre. 1635 Park Avenue, San Jose, CA 95126. General Seating.

PRICE: Ticket Prices:
Thurs & Sun: $18.00 General Admission
$13.00 Student/Educator/Senior/TBA Discount Admission
Fri & Sat: $20.00 General Admission
$15.00 Student/Educator/Senior/TBA Discount Admission
Tickets available online (www.renegadetheatre.com) and at the door.

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PUBLICITY PHOTOS: http://www.renegadetheatre.com/press
CONTACT: Whitney Stebbins
(408) 351-4440

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MEDIA RESPONSE TO RTE

Renegade Theatre Experiment:

“A South Bay company that’s already received notice from the press for its bold, unconventional productions.”
[Karen McKevitt, Theatre Bay Area, 8/1/2004

Roald Dahl’s The BFG adapted for the stage by David Wood
(Producer: RTE):

“Ever the rebel, trust that the Renegade Theatre Experiment first children’s production would be delightfully creative yet with a proffered edge...Just don’t expect a Disney soufflé. More like a bowl of hot chili, pleasing, but with a kick.”
[W. Fred Crow, Milpitas Post, 11/10/2005

"Like Dahl himself, the Renegade production has an eye and ear for speaking directly to the child in us—magic, creepies, silliness and all."
[Marianne Messina, Metro, 11/9/2005

Lorca in a Green Dress by Nilo Cruz (Producer: RTE):

"RTE certainly lives up to its name with "Lorca,'' making its mark as a little theater company willing to chase the high of new and difficult work."
[Karen D'Souza, San Jose Mercury News, 7/20/2005

"Thoughtful, moody and beautiful. [Lorca in a Green Dress juggles emotional tones like intensity, playfulness, wonder and absurdity with a constantly shifting equilibrium...This production is beautifully, arrestingly prismatic, not linear. The more open you can keep mind and senses, the more colors, glints and shadows you'll take in. "
[Marianne Messina, Metro, 7/27/2005

Goner, by Brian Parks (Producer: RTE):

“The Renegade Theatre Experiment hit its stride….Irreverent and impossible, this production, presenting dark, wry, edgy humor, is akin to an over-caffeinated escapee from the local loony bin. This no-intermission offering is satire at its best.”
[W. Fred Crow, Milpitas Post, 6/24/2004

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ABOUT RENEGADE THEATRE

Committed to forward-thinking performance, Renegade Theatre Experiment builds creative partnerships with aspiring and established artists to bring unique, outstanding theatre to the Bay Area. Founded in 2001, when a group of alumni from Santa Clara University joined together to develop as actors, RTE continues to explore the human experience through established and fresh performance works which break with convention. RTE’s artistic and critical successes have included HEAR ME ROAR: WOMEN'S IMAGES OF SELF - an exploration of women's body image and self-worth in American culture, Avery Crozier's EAT THE RUNT, and Brian Parks’ GONER. Renegade produced the World Premiere of Tom Jacobson’s CONSERVING MELISSA and the first North American production of the critically acclaimed show, THE DICE HOUSE by Paul Lucas.
RTE continues in its tradition of brining exceptional, avant-garde productions to the South Bay by kicking off its 2005/2006 season with the California Premiere of Nilo Cruz’s poetic and haunting piece, LORCA IN A GREEN DRESS. A tragic death is only the beginning of the journey for Federico García Lorca. This is followed by the Bay Area Premiere of SKYSCRAPER by David Auburn, a seriocomic piece that explores the impact of six strangers colliding on a rainy Chicago night. In November, RTE brings to the stage its very first Renegade family show with Roald Dahl’s THE BFG (Big Friendly Giant), adapted for the stage by David Wood. Late one night, a giant snatches young Sophie from her orphanage, but don't worry, this giant is not like Fleshlumpeater giant or Bonecruncher giant that like to eat human beans. This giant is the Big Friendly Giant and together they start a magical journey that involves snozzcumbers, whizzpopping, and all things that are scrumdiddlyumptious! The season finishes strongly with the World Premiere of Erica Hemenway’s WAITING TO DANCE. Five women are brought to a room and reluctantly begin to share their tales in the hopes of answering the question of why they are there.

www.renegadetheatre.com

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