Sanctuary, A new play about the impact of war on women premiering at the Capital Fringe Festival July 17-July 26, 2015
Come and join as we weave through time and place and learn the fate of these women embroiled in the throws of war and the men they love. One war is like another. Is it possible to find SANCTUARY?
Using actual emails from soldiers in Iraq, news footage, the poetry of Rumi, Auden and a WWI soldier, Sanctuary, a new play written and performed by theater and film actress Susanne Sulby, will play a limited engagement of five performances at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, Lab II – 1333 H Street NE, in Washington D.C. from July 17th through July 26th.
Staged by veteran Off Broadway director Stephen Stahl, the play will intrigue theater audiences with a poignant and touching look on the impact of war on women over the centuries. The multi-character play features a suburban housewife, a TV news reporter (inspired by CNN correspondent Christiane Amanpour), and a P.O.W. in Kosovo — among other characters.
Having been particularly moved by the Serbo-Croatian conflict in the 1990‘s and the 9/11 tragedy, Sulby was inspired to write Sanctuary from her relationship with television news and its ability to bring the journeys of those surrounded by war into her home. The heart-felt stories made her question her own various roles as a woman in these conflicts — as the observer, victim, mother, and wife. She watched, from the comfort of her Pennsylvania home, a passive participant, as its horrors unfolded. “I was compelled to watch but struggled to understand the bleak absurdity of this slaughter. Although I was mesmerized by the news coverage, I initially felt impotent to respond. I searched so I could find my own path to sanctuary, simply put action, however small,” says Sulby.
An established actor, designated Linklater voice instructor, dialect coach, and voiceover artist, Ms. Sulby has performed for over 20 years. Favorite roles include Gertrude in Hamlet with Rev Theatre, Aunt Bobbie in American Sligo with New City Stage Company, Yelena in Black Russian with InterAct Theatre , Molly Bloom in A Dublin Bloom based on James Joyce’s Ulysses , directed by Gregory Doran of the Royal Shakespeare Company and Queen Elizabeth in Richard III with Novel Stages. Her first film role was playing opposite Billy Crudup in the 2000 award-winning Evenstar feature film, Jesus’ Son. Her film credits as dialect coach include the recent feature film, Silver Linings Playbook (nominated for 8 Academy Awards) directed by David O. Russell, starring Bradley Cooper, Robert DeNiro and Jacki Weaver.
Fresh from having penned and staged last season’s Off Broadway hit musical Lady Day starring Dee Dee Bridgewater, Stephen Stahl comes to Sanctuary as a seasoned writer and director. His production, directorial and industrial credits include numerous professional stage shows, award-winning films and a decade of writing, producing and directing the Philadelphia Music Awards. Mr. Stahl has directed, written for, produced and worked with Billy Joel, Bill Cosby, Patti LaBelle, Kathy Sledge, Sandy Duncan, Jason Bateman, Phyllis Hyman, Kitty Kallen, Hall & Oates, Grant Shaud, Julie Gold, Clint Holmes, Bobby Rydell, Divine, Peggy King, Teddy Pendergrass and many others.
Sanctuary will play the following schedule:
PERFORMANCES AT:
Atlas Performing Arts Center: Lab II
1333 H Street, NE Washington, DC 20002
Friday, July 17th at 6 pm
Saturday, July 18th at 4:10 pm
Tuesday, July 21st at 8:40 pm
Friday, July 24th at 8:10 pm
Sunday, July 26th at 6:40 pm.
For tickets, call (866)811-4111, or purchase them online.
Here are directions to the Atlas Performing Arts Center.
For more information visit Sanctuary’s website.
