Off-Broadway comedy about blind faith and religious dogma returns for limited engagement.
November 27 - December 20 at the cell
Me & She Productions and ManyTracks Inc. present a revival of Evan Smith's THE SAVANNAH DISPUTATION, a saucy comedy exploring the imperfections of blind faith and the thorny issues of religious dogma. Directed by Katrin Hilbe, previews begin November 27 at the cell with opening set for December 6.
THE SAVANNAH DISPUTATION is set at Christmas time in Georgia. Two Catholic spinsters are suddenly thrust into a verbal smackdown with a perky evangelist who has arrived at their doorstep to save their souls. With their comfortable equilibrium threatened by this intruder who denounces the Catholic faith, they enlist the help of parish priest Father Murphy. Murphy is furious once he realizes the sisters’ intention that he play devil’s (or God’s) advocate, and eventually the evening comically dissolves into personal confrontations and surprising revelations.
THE SAVANNAH DISPUTATION stars Michael Gnat, Charlotte Hampden, Lucy McMichael, and Katie Yamulla. The production team features Sarah Edkins (set designer) Andy Even Cohen (sound designer), Page Clements (dialect coach) and Marcina Zaccaria (stage manager).
Director Katrin Hilbe is a director of opera and theatre in both in the US and in Europe. For Richard Strauss’ Salome for New Orleans Opera she won “Best Opera Production 2012”. With her company, ManyTracks, she co-produced and directed the play St Joan by Julia Pascal, and won the Hilton Edwards Award for best direction and adaptation at the Dublin International Gay Theatre Festival. Katrin’s latest directorial work in NYC was In Bed with Roy Cohn by Joan Beber on Theatre Row. She is a member of SDC, LPTW, TRU, DG and Artistic Director for International Relations of the Midtown International Theatre Festival.
Evan Smith's plays have been produced by Playwrights Horizons, the New Group, The Writers’ Theatre (Chicago), 1812 Productions (Philadelphia), The Old Globe, Speakeasy Stage (Boston), The Theatrical Outfit (Atlanta), New York Stage & Film, and many others. They include The Savannah Disputation, Psych, The Uneasy Chair, Daughters of Genius, and Servicemen. He is the recipient of commissions from Playwrights Horizons and Lincoln Center Theatre.
THE SAVANNAH DISPUTATION runs November 27 - December 20. Performances are Thursdays and Fridays at 7pm and Sundays at 3pm with additional performances Wednesday, December 2 and Saturday, December 19 at 7pm.the cell is located at 338 W 23rd St, between 8th & 9th Avenues -- accessible from the C & E trains at 23rd Street. Tickets: $18 at 212-352-3101 or www.meandsheproductions.org.