Written by
Matthew Opatrny

Based on the life and poetry of
James Wilde

Journey through the heart of the Congo rainforest, a rice paddy in Vietnam, an asylum in Turkey, and a nervous first date in a Parisian café in this exploration of the real-life adventures of war correspondent James Wilde. This dynamic new play examines what motivated Wilde to obsessively pursue extreme human suffering as a reporter, and offers a new perspective on the news of war and the people who bring it to us.

James Wilde (b. 1929) spent thirty-two years tracking stories across the world as a journalist for TIME Magazine. He began his career by breaking the story of the Russian arms buildup in North Vietnam and retired after the first Gulf War. Now seventy-eight, a published poet and prolific storyteller, he has asked blessed unrest to tell his story on stage.

Featuring
Jessica Burr, Zenzelé Cooper, Dave Edson,
Jason Griffin, Anna Kepe, Eunjee Lee, Celli Pitt,
Matthew Sincell, Darrell Stokes, Laura Wickens

Director Damen Scranton
Choreographer Kelly Hayes
Stage Manager Amy E. VonVett
Lighting Design Benjamin C. Gevelow
Costume Design Sarah Lafferty
Painting Coach Ian Robertson Duncan

This winter blessed unrest collaborates with the New York University Percussion Ensemble in an experiment in percussive theatre, an art form that has become mainstreamed into the entertainment world with groups like "Stomp" and "Blue Man Group". The NYU percussionists, led by Director and Conductor of the NYU Percussion Department Jonathan Haas, and the blessed unrest ensemble will combine the languages of classical percussion, body percussion and physical theatre to create this unique event.

Directed by
Anna Kepe

Musical Direction
Jonathan Haas

In March blessed unrest presents a workshop of a new translation, with much adaptation, of Chekhov's Ivanov by Laura Wickens. This extremely contemporary version of the classic explores the obsessive need for things, things and more things in order to alleviate the boredom, depression and sickness within. Only a few have the money to fulfill this need, while the rest live on dwindling credit, beauty, and morals.

In June, blessed unrest and Teatri Oda of Prishtina, Kosova will continue their collaboration begun in April 2005. When the Oda company arrives in New York, hosted by blessed unrest, Jessica Burr and Oda Artistic Director Florent Mehmeti will co-direct a cast of actors from both companies.

In 2005, Jessica Burr and Matt Opatrny met Florent Mehmeti in Prishtina, attended an Oda performance, and began planning to develop work together. In May of 2006, six artists from blessed unrest traveled to Prishtina. The two companies rehearsed together, integrating a bilingual Oda actor into blessed unrest's play "Lying" which was presented at Teatri Oda for a mixed audience of Kosovars and members of the international community working in Prishtina. The companies held two workshops to share methods of actor training, and a public roundtable discussion. In September 2006 blessed unrest held a public roundtable in New York to discuss their journey. Now the collaboration continues for our New York audiences!