New drama by Krista Knight uses mythological creature to explore domestic violence.
November 29 - December 22 at The Wild Project
Dutch Kills Theater (In Quietness, The Sister, The Providence of Neighboring Bodies) will present the World Premiere of SELKIE by Krista Knight (Hissifit, Primal Play). Directed by Matt Dickson (Disco Pigs, We The People), previews begin November 29 at The Wild Project with opening slated for Wednesday, December 5.
In SELKIE, young American couple Keaton and Deanna, saddled with debt and buoyed by lust-driven optimism, move abroad for a fresh start. When Deanna runs an illicit errand for her husband, she comes home to find a selkie (a mythological half-woman, half-seal creature) imprisoned in her home. A dark, funny, and saturated exploration of domestic violence – of being trapped – and two approaches to escape.
In Irish, Scottish, Icelandic and Scandinavian folklore, selkies are amorous, affectionate and affable beings that can be human or seal, depending on whether they’re wearing their seal coat. Whoever controls their seal coat, controls them.
SELKIE stars Toni Ann DeNoble (The Tempest at CSC, Jar the Floor, Kristin Linklater’s Iphigenia at Aulis), Federico Rodriguez (Pygmalion at Williamstown Theatre Festival) and Elia Monte Brown (Colt Coeur’s Everything is Ours, Ski End, Loving v Virginia at Williamstown Theatre Festival). The production team includes Reid Thompson (set), Sarita Fellows (costumes), Cecelia Durbin (lighting), Asa Wember (sound), Addison Heeren (props), Jack McGuire (composer) and Sean McGrath (production manager).
Krista Knight's work includes Primal Play (New Georges, Playwrights Center of MN), Hissifit (Cradle Theatre Co.), Salamander Leviathan (Joe's Pub, Ars Nova Ant Fest, Fingerlakes Musical Theatre Festival, Inkwell, KCACTF Musical Theatre Award from the Kennedy Center for best book), and 17 plays and musicals for young audiences. Commissions include the new musical Don't Stop Me with Dave Malloy and the script for a ride at Tokyo Disney. Krista has been a Page 73 Playwriting Fellow (2007), MacDowell Fellow (2008), Shank Playwriting Fellow at the Vineyard Theatre (2011-2012), and Juilliard School Lila Acheson Wallace American Playwrights Program Fellow (2016-2018). She is an alum of EST’s Youngblood, TerraNova Groundbreakers, Page 73’s Interstate 73, Civilians R&D Lab, New Georges JAM and Fresh Ground Pepper Playgroup.
Matt Dickson's directing credits include: Disco Pigs (Sheen Center), Blood Wedding (Rutgers University), The Adventures of Minami... by Leah Nanako Winkler (The Brick, in partnership with The Dramatists Guild Fund), Brian Quijada's Kid Prince & Pabo (Ars Nova ANT Fest), and Krista Knight's Coach Darling (F*It Club). Regional credits include: Lanford Wilson's Home Free! and Michael John Garcés Audiovideo (Williamstown Theatre Festival). Matt has developed new work with playwrights including Hilary Bettis, Amy Fox, Justin Kuritzkes, Eric John Meyer, Jen Silverman, and Zhu Yi at Ars Nova, Clubbed Thumb, Page 73, Ensemble Studio Theatre, The Mint, Primary Stages, The Flea, New York Opera Exchange, INTAR, and The Lark. He has served as Associate or Assistant Director to Jack O'Brien, Daniel Sullivan, Mark Wing-Davey, Anne Kauffman, Hunter Foster and others. He has led workshops at Williamstown Theatre Festival, Long Island University and Boston University College of Fine Arts. He is a 2017 Drama League Directing Fellow, a Jonathan Alper Directing Fellow (Manhattan Theatre Club) and a proud member of Ensemble Studio Theatre. As an actor he has appeared on Broadway in War Horse and The Coast of Utopia (Lincoln Center Theater), and Off-Broadway in Nicky Silver's Too Much Sun (Vineyard Theatre).
Since 2011, Dutch Kills has been committed to developing and producing new plays by the most exciting emerging theater artists in New York and beyond. Dutch Kills full productions include The Sister by Eric John Meyer at the 4th Street Theater and later at Paradise in Edinburgh, In Quietness by Anna Moench at Walkerspace, and Adventure Quest by Richard Lovejoy at Just the Tonic in Edinburgh. In the winter of 2017 the company produced two plays developed by Dutch Kills: Latter Days by Ben Beckley and The Providence of Neighboring Bodies by Jean Ann Douglass, both directed by Jess Chayes as an Ars Nova Fling. Providence… was also produced in August 2018 at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The company has produced dozens of developmental workshops and readings including works by Kate Benson, Alexandra Silber, and Erin Mallon.
SELKIE runs November 29 – December 22. Performances are Tuesday-Sunday at 8pm. (Note: no performance Tuesday 11/11.) The Wild Project is located at 195 E. 3rd Street b/w Aves A & B. Tickets are $25. To purchase tickets, call 212-352-3101 or visit www.dutchkillstheater.com.