NEDA WANTS TO DIE by Luigi Laraia
10th Annual Capital Fringe Festival July 9 – 26, 2015 in Washington, DC
Daring Play on Sexual Violence Explores Blurred Lines between Perpetrators and Victims
Luigi Laraia, playwright and director.
Starring Richard Tanenbaum, Karen Elle, Samuel Dumarque Wright, and Stuart D. Rick.
Neda Wants to Die, a new play recently staged at the World Bank and United Nations, daringly explores the blurred lines between perpetrators and victims of sexual violence, and highlights in visceral terms why such violence is not just a women’s issue but a human rights one.
Taking place in an unnamed war-torn country, testimonies in the three-person play are based on real events.
“I wanted to create a stage production that was ferociously real to the point of being unbearable just as gender violence is: a dehumanizing process of degradation and addictive dependency,” says playwright and World Bank Board of Directors Advisor, Luigi Laraia.
Neda Wants to Die presents violence from the perspectives of the abused, the abuser and those who must witness the aftermath.
“This play aims to convey a shared sensory experience, a visual distillation of crimes that affect the viewer more profoundly than just reading the news,” says lead actor Richard Tanenbaum, a Washington, DC-based leadership coach and psychologist.
The play debuted in Washington in 2014 as part of the World Bank’s “1 in 3” campaign and art exhibition, garnering interest and support which led to performances at the United Nations, United Nations and Vital Voices in 2015.
“My ambition is that the play will inspire a frank and open discussion about gender-based violence,” says Laraia. “This play is not so much about violence as about how violence multiplies and deepens when we look away.”
Tickets & Passes:
Where capitalfringe.org or by calling 866-811-4111.
Tickets go on sale starting June 22, 2015.
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Where & When:
Performances: July 11th, 14th, 19th, 23rd, and 25, 2015.
Location:
WS Jenks & Son – 910 Bladensburg Road, NE, in Washington, DC.
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[twitter.com/NedaWants – #capfringe15 #CapFringeSoldOut]
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About Capital Fringe: Capital Fringe is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization founded in 2005 with the purpose of connecting exploratory artists with adventurous audiences by creating outlets and spaces for creative, cutting-edge, and contemporary performance in the District. Capital Fringe’s vital programs ensure the growth and continued health of the local and regional performing arts community by helping artists become independent producers while stimulating the vibrant cultural landscape in our city.
