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Event
Rockaby by Samuel Beckett
As a teaser for a larger festival of Beckett short plays to be presented in 2014, AJ
Epstein Presents and West of Lenin bring you four special performances of one of
Beckett's one-acts that the New York Times called, "overpowering." Rockabye.
This brief piece charts a woman's journey back into life before she arrives at death.
Directed by AJ Epstein, Rockaby features Susanna Burney, one of Seattle's most
accomplished performers, reuniting the actor/director team from last Fall's
production of Tommy Smith's Demon Dreams.
When asked why Rockaby, Epstein responded, "Beckett is a fascinating writer, not
just because of the zeitgeist he tapped into after WWI, but also the cultural shadow
he still casts today. His works are timeless and both individually and collectively
speak to the absurdity of the human condition. He is a fascinating writer from a
pure literary and dramaturgical point of view, and I think that can get lost when his
full-length works are produced. I've for many years wanted to tackle some of these
shorter pieces and I guess I needed to build a theatre in order to do that, so here we
Samuel Beckett (1906-1989) is widely recognized as one of the greatest dramatists
of the twentieth century. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1969. Mr.
Beckett is most renowned for his play Waiting for Godot which launched his career
in theatre. He then went on to write numerous successful full-length plays, including
Endgame in 1957, Krapp's Last Tape in 1958, and Happy Days in 1960. Mr. Beckett
received his first commission for radio from the BBC in 1956 for All That Fall. This
was followed by a further five plays for radio including Embers, Words and Music,
and Cascando. Like no other dramatist before him, Mr. Beckett's works capture the
pathos and ironies of modern life yet still maintain his faith in man's capacity for
compassion and survival no matter how absurd his environment may have become.
Susanna Burney (W) is an actress, director, audiobook narrator and teaching
artist who has performed with Printer's Devil (Torso, Teensploitation, A Terrible
Price for Whimsy, The Christ Shussler Incident); Seattle Shakespeare Company
(Electra, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth Lady M, As You Like It Phebe); Wooden
O (As You Like It Jacques, Othello - Emilia); Book-It (Howards End, Trains,
and many school tours), as well as other local theaters including Seattle Children's
Theatre, Empty Space, House of Dames, Theater Schmeater, and Annex where she
worked with many wonderful people in the early-late 90's
AJ Epstein (Director) is an artist working in the medium of Light, photography,
film and live theatrical performance. In 1995, AJ presaged the webcam revolution
when he broadcast the musical Cowboys in Love live to the internet. His company,
The Ethereal Mutt Limited produces theatre, music and indie film often with
an eye towards the exploration of Science through Art. His latest project is West
of Lenin, a new black box performance space in Fremont. Off Broadyway: Tim
Crouch's An Oak Tree, Mike Daisey's How Theatre Failed America, Regional and
Touring: The Flying Karamazov Brothers': L'Universe; Starball; A Dreamy Musical
Astronomy Show; Saving Tania's Privates; Muffin Face. TV and Film: Lynn
Shelton's We Go Way Back; Guy Maddin's Brand Upon the Brain!; Tim Crouch's
England at The Henry; Survival Skills. In 2004 Seattle Weekly named him "Seattle's
Best Lighting Designer", and his work as a designer and light artist have been seen
in theatres and galleries worldwide. He sits on the boards of the Northwest Film
Forum and Humanities Washington, and is a proud member of the Sandbox Artists
Collective. He has studied with Mabou Mines and toured with AC/DC, Rod Stewart
and the Eagles.
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LocationWest of Lenin Theater (View)
203 N. 36th Street
Seattle, WA 98103
United States
Categories
| Minimum Age: 18 |
| Kid Friendly: No |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: Yes! |
| Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! |
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