Founded in 2000, Bread & Water Theatre is committed to making the arts accessible and affordable to a broad-based audience and acting as a positive agent of change in its community.  Under the artistic direction of J.R. Teeter, BWT develops theatre that speaks to our living, evolving, and dramatically changing world through new and rare works of drama, and aspires to be a major force in American theatre, providing audiences with challenging contemporary drama and innovative community outreach programs.

24 Hours to Go: A Series of Short Plays will be presented at 243 Rosedale St. (New Life Presbyterian Church) on Saturday September 15th, 2007 at 8pm.  Single tickets range from $5-$10 and may be purchased in person at the Bread & Water Theatre box office or through www.BreadandWaterTheatre.org starting September 7th.
   

PeaceWorks of Greater Rochester in conjunction with St. John Fisher College’s Peace and Social Justice Program and the Women and Gender Studies Program have formally announced the roster for this year’s “No Frills” Film and Arts Festival.  The festival will include such socially conscious films as: The Corporation, An Inconvenient Truth, Scared Sacred and Who Killed the Electric Car? as well as the first public staged reading of the play The Witnesses of Kitty Genovese which was recently awarded a grant by the Arts Council of Greater Rochester so that the script could be developed and revised based on input from the public.

Catherine Genovese, or Kitty as she was better known, lived in Kew Gardens, Queens.  Little about her life is known, as it was her death that made her famous.  At 3:20am on March 13th, 1964, Kitty while returning home from work at Ev's Eleventh Hour Tavern, was murdered on her Queens, New York doorstep in full view of acquaintances, neighbors, and friends— all of whom did nothing, even though the woman was stabbed repeatedly and stalked by her killer for more than an hour.  The New York Times covered the story in many famous articles by A.M. Rosenthal who later authored a book compiling his experiences, Thirty-Eight Witnesses.

The media attention garnered by the Genovese murder led many individuals and organizations to action.  The publicity led directly to the reform of the NYPD’s telephone reporting system (a precursor to the 911 system), academic psychologists began serious study of Genovese Syndrome later known as the Bystander effect, communities for the first time began instituting neighborhood watch programs and even today the Genovese case is studied in Law Schools and used as a rallying point for advocates of victim’s rights and self-defense awareness.

Although it is unclear if any of these efforts have made a lasting impression on the blight of urban apathy as demonstrated by the 1974 murder of Sandra Zahler whose apartment building overlooked the Genovese murder site.  Neighbors said they heard screams and the sound of struggling, but did nothing to save her.

For these reasons and many others, J.R. Teeter constructed the play Witnesses of Kitty Genovese in the spring of 2004.  “Constructed is the appropriate term as the entire play is taken from first hand accounts of what happened that night, says J.R. Teeter, “I compiled over 500 pages of parole hearing minutes, trial transcripts, television interviews, and newspaper articles on the crime.  Through this information, the story of the last night of Kitty Genovese is told.  I think it’s important for people to experience as much of the whole story as possible as the media has the tendency to focus just on the salaciousness of her murder and little else.”

Winston Moseley, Kitty’s murderer, is often the focal point of any new media coverage and even today more is known about his life than anyone else involved in the case.  In Witnesses… his entire life pre and post murder are examined.  “There was a lot I did not know about Moseley at the time I began writing the play and still a great deal more that I want to know about him afterwards,” Mr. Teeter reiterates, “He has a despicable soul, but I am not his judge or jury.  As far as the play is concerned, his own confession was enough to hang him.”  Moseley is currently serving a life sentence in Comstock Prison.

The Witnesses of Kitty Genovese will be presented by Bread & Water Theatre at St. John Fisher College’s Basil Auditorium in conjunction with the “No Frills” Film and Arts Festival.  The performance will begin on February 10^th at 7pm.  Tickets are free and the event is open to the public.  For more information, call (585) 271-5523.

The Witnesses of Kitty Genovese is funded by a grant from the Arts & Cultural Council for Greater Rochester, The New York State Council on the Arts, and the New York State Legislature.

Catherine Genovese, or Kitty as she was better known, lived in Kew Gardens, Queens.  Little about her life is known, as it was her death that made her famous.  At 3:20am on March 13th, 1964, Kitty while returning home from work at Ev's Eleventh Hour Tavern, was murdered on her Queens, New York doorstep in full view of acquaintances, neighbors, and friends— all of whom did nothing, even though the woman was stabbed repeatedly and stalked by her killer for more than an hour.  The New York Times covered the story in many famous articles by A.M. Rosenthal who later authored a book compiling his experiences, Thirty-Eight Witnesses.

The media attention garnered by the Genovese murder led many individuals and organizations to action.  The publicity led directly to the reform of the NYPD’s telephone reporting system (a precursor to the 911 system), academic psychologists began serious study of Genovese Syndrome later known as the Bystander effect, communities for the first time began instituting neighborhood watch programs and even today the Genovese case is studied in Law Schools and used as a rallying point for advocates of victim’s rights and self-defense awareness.

Although it is unclear if any of these efforts have made a lasting impression on the blight of urban apathy as demonstrated by the 1974 murder of Sandra Zahler whose apartment building overlooked the Genovese murder site.  Neighbors said they heard screams and the sound of struggling, but did nothing to save her.

For these reasons and many others, J.R. Teeter constructed the play Witnesses of Kitty Genovese in the spring of 2004.  “Constructed is the appropriate term as the entire play is taken from first hand accounts of what happened that night, says J.R. Teeter, “I compiled over 500 pages of parole hearing minutes, trial transcripts, television interviews, and newspaper articles on the crime.  Through this information, the story of the last night of Kitty Genovese is told.  I think it’s important for people to experience as much of the whole story as possible as the media has the tendency to focus just on the salaciousness of her murder and little else.”

Some of the information often left out of media reports was that Ms. Genovese was a lesbian and living with her partner Mary Ann Zielonko at the time she was murdered.  “At the time the police concealed this information as best they could because they were very concerned that homophobia on the part of the jury pool may cause her killer to go free.  In truth, even Genovese’s family did not know she was gay until recently when Ms. Zielonko broke her silence in the article “Remembering Kitty Genovese” first aired on Weekend Edition Saturday in 2004 and now available online at www.SoundPortraints.org.

Winston Moseley, Kitty’s murderer, is often the focal point of any new media coverage and even today more is known about his life than anyone else involved in the case.  In Witnesses… his entire life pre and post murder are examined.  “There was a lot I did not know about Moseley at the time I began writing the play and still a great deal more that I want to know about him afterwards,” Mr. Teeter reiterates, “He has a despicable soul, but I am not his judge or jury.  As far as the play is concerned, his own confession was enough to hang him.”  Moseley is currently serving a life sentence in Comstock Prison.

“Our goal is to have a series of staged readings in 2007 to help me better the play and really address the needs of the audience.  With over 500 pages of material, there was a lot of information I could not include in the play for the sake of time.  Readings and talkback sessions will help me clarify everything this play needs to say to the public and some of that material may be added back in.  We’re looking for community groups, college organizations and literary groups who are interested in hosting and in some cases participating in staged readings of Witnesses… with our eventual goal to produce the event locally for the public.”

Witnesses of Kitty Genovese is looking for locations and community organizations to support and host staged reading and development of this play over the course of 2007.  If your organization is interested in supporting this project and Bread and Water Theatre please call 585.271.5523 or e-mail Info@BreadandWaterTheatre.org.

Starting in 2004, Bread and Water Theatre rededicated their annual GLBT theatre festival to the Rainbow Pride Flag by using the colors of the flag itself to determine the nature of the theatrical event.  Gilbert Baker, a San Francisco artist, created the flag in 1978 to provide a rallying point for other gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgendered people.  This will be the fourth year that a theme from the flag is chosen and the seventh annual presentation of GLBT theatre in Rochester under the auspices of the Rainbow Theater Festival.  Certified by the board of directors, Bread and Water Theatre formally announces the new theme for 2007: Healing also known as the color orange on the Rainbow Pride Flag.

The festival itself has a varied history.  From humble beginnings as a student-run event at Nazareth College the festival went on to perform in a bar (Nasty D’s in 2004), converted warehouse basements (BushMango Drum and Dance in 2005) and the Visual Studies Workshop in 2006.  “The fest really began to blossom in 2006.  Artistically we chose an assortment of plays that were really relevant to our audience and to the times”, says J.R. Teeter, the company’s Artistic Director, “We managed to back that up with tremendous acting and directing.”  Mr. Teeter concludes, “All the pieces just fell into place.”

The choice of plays remain the most important aspect of BWT’s Rainbow Theater Festival as the event was instrumental in regional or world premiering a wide variety of plays right here in Rochester.  This list includes, but is not limited to transgender author Cheryl Ann Costa’s Berdache (regional premiere) which tells a story reminiscent of The Little Prince, where Ammy, the protagonist, wanders the desert in search of spiritual fulfillment and crosses paths with a guide who changes the character’s life forever.  Jenna’s Dead (world premiere) by Rochester playwright Mario J. Savastano focusing in on the lives of six twenty-somethings as they struggle through life and death.  And lastly, Anointing the Sick (world premiere), That Kiss (world premiere) and the Lambda Project now in its forth season by J.R. Teeter, Artistic Director of BWT and himself a Rochester native.

Not only is this an announcement of 2007’s Rainbow Theater Festival, but it is also a call to action for the Rochester community asking them to do what they can to support this event.  There are currently several ways to do so:

In the coming months, BWT will be looking for volunteers to help make Rainbow Theater Festival 2007 happen.  Everyone is welcome to lend a hand, regardless of experience or skill level.

BWT is asking for the support of local businesses with their advertising dollars and/or allowing for the display of Rainbow Festival promotional materials in their place of business.  100% of their advertising dollars go right into the heart of the festival providing for the rental of equipment and performance spaces, royalty fees, costumes, sets and props.  

For those that are interested in participating in the Lambda Project please visit www.BreadandWaterTheatre.org or call 585.271.5523 for more information.  The project, a Rainbow Theater Festival staple, offers the opportunity for real life people to submit their stories and have those stories transformed into theatre performances for all to see and learn from as part of the festival’s showcase of events dedicated to the theme color. 

Within the coming months there will be another announcement breaking down the event activities, plays and the event location.  All are currently to be determined, but expected to launch in April-May of 2007. 

Founded in 2000, Bread & Water Theatre is committed to making the arts accessible and affordable to a broad-based audience and acting as a positive agent of change in its community.  Under the artistic direction of J.R. Teeter, BWT develops theatre that speaks to our living, evolving, and dramatically changing world through new and rare works of drama, and aspires to be a major force in American theatre, providing audiences with challenging contemporary drama and innovative community outreach programs.    

A series of emerging theatrical works devoted to queer themes, The 7^th Annual Rainbow Theater Festival will be presented during the months of April and May, 2007 at a location to be announced at a later date with relevant programming information.  Single ticket prices are expected to range from $8-$12 and may be purchased in person at the Bread & Water Theatre box office or through www.BreadandWaterTheatre.org starting February 1st.

Bread and Water Theatre, a Rochester based not-for-profit organization, announces its 2006 line up for the Rainbow Theater Festival today.  The festival with its theme guided by the Rainbow Pride Flag showcases lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender themes and will world premiere Jenna’s Dead by Rochester-based playwright Mario J. Savastano, Poster of the Cosmos and The Madness of Lady Bright by Lanford Wilson, Why we have a Body by Claire Chafee and an all new installment of the Lambda Project entitled Photographs and Memories, in an exploration of this year’s festival theme of life originating in the color red of the Rainbow Pride Flag.

“This year’s festival focuses on the theme of life, which everyone can appreciate,” comments J.R. Teeter, BWT’s Artistic Director.  “And, we’re branching out in terms of material, location, and goals so we can reach as many people as possible.  We’re really looking forward to helping rejuvenate the arts in 2006.”

Jenna’s Dead has a long and varied history with the festival appearing at Nazareth College in one of its first seasons.  Expanded since its original incarnation into a full-length play, Jenna’s Dead follows the lives of six twenty-somethings as they deal with the tragedies and triumphs that make up their lives.

Poster of the Cosmos and The Madness of Lady Bright are two separate one-act plays by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Lanford Wilson.  Produced early in Wilson’s career Madness… is known today as “The true birth of the gay theater movement” as it was the first time gay characters were portrayed as humans, not as villains, depressives or deviants.  The play traces the mental breakdown of Lesley Bright, an aging gay man whose past returns to haunt him with the emptiness of the choices he made.  Poster… concerns the story of Tom who is interrogated after causing a disturbance at the hospital where his lover has just died from AIDS.  Although only Tom speaks, it is clear that the flood of memories that bursts forth is triggered by the uncomprehending questions of the police officers who now watch him in stony silence.  Recalling a host of "little" details, Tom creates a telling portrait of two human beings who must come to understand themselves as individuals before they can comprehend their relationship to each other—much less their position relevant to society at large.  Why we have a Body is Claire Chafee's award-winning feminist comedy about four women in search of…well…everything.  Lesbian private investigator Lili and her mentally unstable sister, Mary are on a voyage of discovery.  Through their relationship with their mother Eleanor, Lili's straight lover Renee, and each other, they seek a way to understand and celebrate the fact that they are by nature out on limb.  “Lyrical, passionate and hilarious,” this play shows women as explorers and investigators, probing their own hearts as they discover what it means to have a body and a mind and a human dilemma.

The finale of the festival year is The Lambda Project: Photographs and Memories written and directed by J.R. Teeter based on the real-life stories of regular people—of every sexual orientation and persuasion.  In past years, these stories have been performed in a very dynamic, but straightforward manner.  This year J.R. Teeter will incorporate audio, video and photographic material into the performance piece to better develop the life stories of the people contributing their stories to this ever-growing tapestry of work.

Founded in 2000, Bread & Water Theatre is committed to making the arts accessible and affordable to a broad-based audience and acting as a positive agent of change in its community.  Under the artistic direction of J.R. Teeter, BWT develops theatre that speaks to our living, evolving, and dramatically changing world through new and rare works of drama, and aspires to be a major force in American theatre, providing audiences with challenging contemporary drama and innovative community outreach programs.    

A series of emerging theatrical works devoted to queer themes, The 6^th Annual Rainbow Theater Festival will be presented at 31 Prince St. (Visual Studies Workshop) beginning April 21^st and running through May 14^th, 2006.  Performances are on Friday and Saturday at 8:00pm and Sunday at 2:00pm.  Single tickets range from $8-$12 and may be purchased in person at the Bread & Water Theatre box office or through www.BreadandWaterTheatre.org starting February 1st.  Auditions will be held at Visual Studies Workshop on February 7^th and 8^th from 7-10pm.  For an audition appointment or more information, call (585) 271-5523.

Using the rainbow pride flag as inspiration, the Bread and Water Theatre (“BWT”) is launching the 5^th annual series of productions devoted to queer life with an emphasis on the theme of spirit (violet) entitled Rainbow Theater Festival: Making the Invisible Visible.  This year’s festival features new plays from both local and national playwrights, an extended performance schedule and the largest cast and crew ever assembled for the festival.

On January 28 through to February 6^th there will be performances of the play I L You by Ohio playwright Tommy Van Stitzel.  The intimate drama centers on the last day in the life of Andrew, a repressed gay man.  The title of the play comes from Gladys, Andrew’s deaf mother, who flashes the sign “I love you” to show her affection to others including Andrew’s boyfriend Jonathan.  “Each character has two personalities, the one they show the world and the one they suppress,” according to director J.R. Teeter, “It is only a matter of time before a person snaps and in I L You that is exactly what happens.”

On February 11^th through to the 20^th there will be performances of three one-act plays and a special slam-poetry performance by Joy Messinger collectively entitled A Night of Spirit.  Included in the presentation of one-acts are Anointing the Sick by J.R. Teeter focusing in on issues of faith as priests arrive at the house of a dying man to deliver last rites.  Do the Gay Thing by Rochester native Mario J. Savastano takes its title from Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing.  In this play, the patrons of a gay bar are confronted by an angry mob and are forced to make the choice between safety in the bar and possible death – but freedom – out in the greater world.  In Berdache by Cheryl Ann Costa, reminiscent of The Little Prince, Ammy wanders the desert in search of spiritual fulfillment and crosses paths with a spirit guide who changes Ammy’s life forever.  Ms. Costa is also a post-operative transsexual who recently published The Twentieth Century Collection: Eight Extraordinary One-Act Plays.  She is an ordained Buddhist nun and has a website detailing her life and artistic career, www.cherylcosta.com.

On February 25^th through to the 27^th there will be performances of The Lambda Project: An Ode to Two-Spirits by J.R. Teeter.  This is the second installment of The Lambda Project and features real-life narratives from people all over the world on the topic of spirit.  One of these stories called “Tell me more, Purple” recreates the moment of a young woman’s spiritual and sexual awakening, “I had never felt this way about anyone before...definitely not.  She admired the stars while I gazed at the gorgeous parabola her eyes made against the hazy glow of the night sky.  That we were both girls faded into the uncharted catacombs of my mind as we sang old hippie songs and laughed at giggly little nonsense.  Rolling around in the grass that night, I suddenly became aware of something inside myself whose presence I had not noticed before.  It wasn't just that this was the first time I had ever been in love, or that it was with someone of the same sex; it was that the innermost parts of my being had seemed finally to surface.  As we laughed and pondered on dewy earth, I felt more alive, more complete, more myself than I knew to be possible.”

The directing team consists of J.R. Teeter (I L You and Lambda Project), Michael Arve (Anointing the Sick), Anthony T. Carter (Do the Gay Thing and Assistant Director of Lambda Project), David Guetzlaff (Berdache and Assistant Director of I L You) and Carl Girard (Assistant Director of Do the Gay Thing).  Mr. Teeter is the Artistic Director of BWT, previously directing The Little Prince, The Lambda Project: an Empty Closet, The Night before the Morning After and The Yellow Wallpaper and previously appearing in The Autobiography of Thorton J. Wright and Trillium Films Fury.  Mr. Arve has previously directed Almighty God Bierce, The Belle of Amherst and Couples for The Greater Rochester Repertory Co. as well as Light Sensitive for Shipping Dock Theatre, Leading Ladies for Wild Wimmin, Etc. and is the recipient of numerous awards for artistic achievement in directing.  Mr. Carter has previously appeared in Callahan Theatre’s Comedy of Errors and works as an independent film director.  David Guetzlaff is the president of RIT Gay Alliance and has previously performed as a voice actor for NTID Performing Arts.  Mr. Girard previously directed The Autobiography of Thorton J. Wright, That Kiss¸ and Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake for BWT.

A series of new theatrical works devoted to queer themes, The 5^th Annual Rainbow Theater Festival: Making the Invisible Visible will be presented at 34 Elton Street (Bush Mango Drum and Dance) beginning January 20^th and running through February 20^th, 2005.  Performances of The Lambda Project: An Ode to Two-Spirits will be at RIT (Official auditorium – TBA) beginning February 25^th through to the 27^th.  Performances are on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 8:00pm.   
     

The Autobiography of Thorton J. Wright, BWT’s fall production, is a full-length play by J.R. Teeter, known for shorter plays such as That Kiss, and the BWT adaptations of The Little Prince and The Yellow Wallpaper.

Autobiography… is centered on the study of the recently deceased Thorton, a social critic whose public persona earned him the nickname Mr. Americana.  His death sparks the arrival of two men with two differing agendas.  For Arthur – a young historian sent to research a book on the late man of letters – Thorton “stood for America.  The kind of America that you can see in Life Magazine and Norman Rockwell pictures.  A time when America had values and believed in something.”  For Stan – The cynical son of privileged parents – Thorton was “Just some guy.  He wrote some books, made some speeches and then he offed himself.”  Constance – Thorton’s young trophy-wife turned widow – soon appears to confirm Thorton’s suicide and adds her own point of view concerning her late husband, “He was a hero to me.”

Thorton’s suicide turns into a slippery slope of discovery as Arthur deconstructs the life of his childhood idol in order to prove the man a hero.  How can a hero give up his aspirations?  Why would a hero divorce his wife and marry a woman that is young enough to be his daughter?  What kind of hero takes his own life?  These are all questions Stan poses to Arthur attempting to shake him of his idealism.  These conflicts persist and create the dramatic tension of Autobiography…

“The question of heroism appears often in the media, especially in an election year,” according to Artistic Director/playwright, J.R. Teeter, “But everyone is flawed in some way.  It is impossible for people to be that perfect – heroic.” 

Ultimately, Autobiography… is not about the book Arthur uncovers in his search for heroic proof.  It is about the struggle of three characters and their search for something to believe in.  “We can be heroes if we want to be and we need people to look up to.  We need role models.  People that can show us the way.  Thorton is that to me and I’ll never stop believing in him,” speaks Arthur near Autobiography’s… end.

The cast includes: Stephanie Roosa (Constance), Bryan Adams (Arthur) and J.R. Teeter (Stan).  Ms. Roosa has appeared in Exact Theatre Company’s The Balcony, Arden Conservatory’s As You Like It, Penfield Player’s Peril on the High Sea and Hartburn Hotel, Blackfriar’s Elephant Man, and is making her BWT debut.  The other two have appeared at BWT before.  Mr. Adams was in That Kiss and Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake, produced as part of BWT’s Rainbow Theater Festival, Mr. Teeter BWT’s Artistic Director and company member was most recently seen in Rainbow Theater Festival’s One Act Play and Lambda Project: An Empty Closet.     

The creative team consists of Associate Director and Company member Carl Girard (Director), J.R. Teeter (Lighting Design) and Kate Sherman (Stage Manager).  Mr. Girard previously directed That Kiss and Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake for BWT’s Rainbow Theater Festival. 

The Autobiography of Thorton J. Wright will be presented by Bread & Water Theatre at New Life Presbyterian Church located at 243 Rosedale Street beginning September 17th and running through to October 9th, 2004.  Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8 pm.  Single tickets range from $10-$15 and may be purchased in person at the Bread & Water Theatre box office or through forms available at www.BreadandWaterTheatre.org.  For more information, call (585) 538-2105.
   

Bread & Water Theatre is currently in pre-production for Rainbow Theater Festival 2004 (RTF), a series of performances dedicated to gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender themes. 

As part of an ongoing effort to create new works of theatre and promote involvement in the arts, Bread & Water Theatre is currently asking for the community to contribute their stories of sexuality to this year’s festival.  These stories will be molded into a series of monologues, which will be a part of this year’s final performance.

Some may be familiar with this style of theatre from the works of other well-known artists.  Studs Terkel, an actor and radio host, has spent his life traveling all over the world interviewing people.  These interviews have been compiled in Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do, American Dreams: Lost and Found, Race: How Blacks and Whites Think and Feel About the American Obsession, Hard Times, The Good War: An Oral History of World War Two, and more.  In 1985 Terkel won the Pulitzer Prize for The Good War.  The monologue story has also been a part of making The Vagina Monologues an international phenomenon and a rallying cry for women everywhere.  Eve Ensler, the playwright behind the success of The Vagina Monologues, spent years traveling the world interviewing women for this very important piece of theatre.

Bread & Water Theatre is accepting stories through the Lambda Project where participants can submit their stories through an online form.  These submissions can deal with any aspect of sexuality and anyone can be a participant regardless of sexual preference.

A series of new theatrical works devoted to gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender themes, The Rainbow Theater Festival 2004 will be presented during the 3rd and 4th weekends of January 2004 at a time and location yet to be determined.  A press release listing show dates, performance location(s), and play details will be sent out shortly.  
  

 
The Yellow Wallpaper is a short story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman adapted into a play by Marcy J. Savastano and J.R. Teeter.  Gilman, the grandniece of Harriet Beecher Stowe,  was an important voice in the feminist cause and is known for the book Women and Economics and founding of The Forerunner, a magazine she self-published.

In The Yellow Wallpaper, the unnamed woman and her doctor husband, John, live in "a colonial mansion, a hereditary estate..." She believes the house is haunted. "John laughs at me, of course, but one expects that." She believes she is ill but her husband, and her brother, also a physician, say it is only "temporary nervous depression - a slight hysterical tendency..." They insist on "phosphates or phosphites - whichever it is - and tonics" and absolutely forbid work until she is well again. She believes "Personally...that congenial work, with excitement and change, would do me good. Personally, I disagree with their ideas. But what is one to do? I did write for a while in spite of them; but it does exhaust me a good deal - having to be so sly about it, or else meet with heavy opposition." She is confined to rest in a room she hates with wallpaper she finds hideously ugly: "The color is repellent, almost revolting: a smoldering unclean yellow... dull yet lurid orange in some places, a sickly sulphur tint in others." It is in this room that she writes her secret journal that is this story. She struggles to believe in her husband and brother's "kindness" and "care" while, with terrifying starkness, she narrates her journey into madness.

Gilman's The Yellow Wallpaper was one of her first works to deal with the "woman question" and parallels her real life experiences in a sanitarium while suffering from depression.  Gilman proved to be a maverick in her lifetime, divorcing her first husband at a time when such things were unheard of, becoming a prolific writer of prose and poetry and taking most importantly taking control of her life.  An advocate for the right-to-die, Gilman took her own life in 1935. 

Ranked as the 6th most influential woman of all time by the Siena Research Institute and was inducted into the Women's Hall of Fame in 1994, Charlotte Perkins Gilman remains one of America's most influential and ahead-of-her-time women.

The cast includes: Marcy J. Savastano (A woman), Carl Girard (John), and J.R. Teeter ( Ensemble).  Mr. Girard and Ms. Savastano last appeared in Nosoma Theatre's One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest.  Mr. Teeter last appeared in Exact Theatre's The Balcony.  All of the above will be appearing in Bread and Water Theatre's The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

An all ages show, The Yellow Wallpaper will be presented as the first show as part of a double bill with The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry at the Visual Studies Workshop at 31 Prince Street beginning July 25th and running through August 3rd, 2003.  Performances are Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 8:00pm.  Single tickets range from $8-$10 and may be purchased at the Bread and Water Theatre Box Office in person or to reserve tickets call XXX.XXX.XXXX.