Red Emma Play Premieres

north america / mexico | culture | non-anarchist press Wednesday January 26, 2011 17:25 by John Doyle - Iron Age Theatre ironage at comcast dot net

One Woman’s Story of Compassion and Revolution

World Premiere of Red Emma offers an intense look into the life and ideas of Emma Goldman.

Emma Goldman

Emma Goldman was one of the most important agitators for free speech, for worker's rights, and for universal compassion in American history. Iron Age Theatre presents the world premiere of a new play about Goldman’s amazing story. This new play, Red Emma written by Philadelphia playwright Chris Braak, explores not just the breadth of her ideas, but also the drama of her astonishing life.

The play will run in its premiere performances February 3-6 at The Centre Theater in Norristown as the conclusion of the theatres Month long Independent Voices Festival. Tickets are $15 for all seats.

From her arrests for inciting riots or speaking out against the draft, to her time in prison, to her deportation to Russia and her eventual escape from the Soviets, Emma Goldman’s story is so extraordinary as to be almost unbelievable. Braak, the author of Iron Age Theatre’s critically-lauded THE LIFE OF JOHN HENRY and EMPRESS OF THE MOON, was challenged to develop a new work that could both reveal some of that incredible life, while simultaneously presenting her ideas fairly and fully.

Emma is played by Mary Tuomanen who recently performed in InterAct Theatre’s highly-successful SILVERHILL. In addition to her renowned performance artwork in Phiadelphia, Mary recently appeared in Nice People’s Theatre’s GRACE, OR THE ART OF CLIMBING and in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM and MACBETH at Philadelphia Shakespeare Theater, where she will portray Hamlet in the spring. Mary has worked with Shakespeare in Clark Park and in New York at New Dramatists, HERE Arts Center, and the TANK Theater. She has extensive credits outside of the Philadelphia region as well as in France.

The performances take place at The Centre Theater at 208 DeKalb Street, Norristown, PA in the 4th floor theatre the street that has become “Norristown Arts Hill”. Tickets can be purchased by calling 610-279-1013 or online at http://ironagetheatre.ticketleap.com/

RED EMMA is the keystone of THE INDEPENDENT VOICES FESTIVAL, a month-long adventure of independent theater and arts; 11 companies will present more than 20 performances, featuring puppetry, solo performance, music, and more. The festival runs from January 7th through February 6th .