Theatre @ York Visits the Depths of subUrbia

TORONTO, October 14, 1999 -- subUrbia, a quasi-autobiographical, gritty drama written by American Eric Bogosian and directed by Fleurette Fernando, launches Theatre @ York's season at York University on October 26.

SubUrbia tells the story of a group of suburban youths anxiously awaiting the return of "Pony", their once geeky high school bud turned limo-riding rock'n'roll star. These disaffected youths carry within them a deep yearning for something better. Surely life has more to offer than hanging out at the strip-mall, eating pizzas and drinking beer. Their frustration is vented on the hard-working Asian corner store owner and the outcome is predictably ugly.

"This play poses the question; who is the oppressed? Is it the new immigrant with the strong work ethic who still believes in the American Dream or the disillusioned working class youth with no job prospects and a sense of powerlessness," reflects director Fleurette Fernando.

Fernando wanted her young actors to work on a drama relevant to the issues facing them and their audience today. "Bogosian's play speaks in the language, speed and intensity of contemporary, alienated young North Americans," says Fernando.

Fernando's career path also has speed and intensity. The youngest student ever to be admitted to the National Theatre School's directing program, she graduated in 1994 and went on to become the artistic director of Montreal's Black Theatre Workshop. Her first creation, The Children of Kush Arising, was selected for The 18th Annual International Showcase of Performing Arts for Young People at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. She received in 1995 the first John Hirsch Prize for young directors from the Canada Council. In 1996 she was the sole Canadian awarded a Fellowship of the Americas by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. The following summer, Fernando was accepted into Royal Court Theatre's International Residency for playwrights and directors in London, England. At present, she is working on her first independent production entitled Devolution with funding from the Canada Council and the Conseil des Arts du QuÈbec. She is also working towards the completion of her MFA degree in directing from York University.

The production features performers from the undergraduate acting ensemble in the Department of Theatre at York University. Set, lighting and costume design are by students in the fourth-year undergraduate production stream.

SubUrbia previews Oct. 24 and 25, opens Tues. Oct 26 and runs nightly to Oct. 30 in the Joseph G. Green Studio Theatre, Centre for Film and Theatre at York University, 4700 Keele St. at Steeles Ave. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. with matinees Oct. 25 and 27 at 1:00 p.m. Admission is $10, students/seniors $7, group rate $5. Previews are PWYC on Sun. Oct. 24 and $4 Mon. Oct. 25. For box office and information, phone 736-5172 ext. 3

A colloquium titled Tough Talk Theatre will be held on Wed. Oct. 27 at 5 p.m. in the Joseph G. Green Studio Theatre to grapple with the issues posed by subUrbia. A panel, including two York theatre graduates, Djanet Sears, Governor-General's Award winner for her play Harlem Duet and Jim Millan, director of Shopping and F**king and Poor Superman will address uncomfortable social and political issues and their relationship to popular entertainment. The moderator is Professor Robert Fothergill. Admission to the colloquium is free.

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For further information, please contact:

Carol Bishop
Communications, Faculty of Fine Arts
York University
(416) 736-2100 ext. 20421
email: cbishop@yorku.ca