[ This Just In! ]

For Immediate Release
Date: November 8, 2001

Holidays Loom Large for Salvage Vanguard Theater

AUSTIN, TX--In the spirit of giving for 2001, Salvage Vanguard Theater offers not one, but two holiday shows this holiday season: a concert reading of MotherBone, a new opera by Golden Arm Trio, and the fifth annual presentation of The Next Best Salvage Vanguard Holiday Ever.

MotherBone is the new opera from composer Graham Reynolds of Golden Arm Trio and New York-based librettist Karen Hartman. Originally conceived in 2000, MotherBone is a contemporized re-telling of the classic Russian "Baba Yaga" fairy tales.

"This is one of the most challenging things I've ever done, but also one of the most exciting as a result," says Reynolds. "I've never done anything like this before and I can't wait for other people to see it."

MotherBone is set in the subways of New York and tells the story of a young, homeless girl's struggle for identity. At times dark, at times funny, the opera takes its musical cues from Kurt Weill, Nick Cave, Prokofiev, and Tom Waits. MotherBone features the voices of Stephanie Stephens and Kris Olson. The concert reading is a work-in-progess. There will be two performances on Friday, November 30 at 8:00 PM and at 10:00 PM. The concert reading will be held at the First Unitarian Church at 4700 Grover Street. Tickets are $10.

The Next Best Salvage Vanguard Holiday Ever follows only one week after the concert reading of MotherBone. This year is the fifth annual presentation of the 5-minute new play festival. Once again, the show will be held at Little City Espresso Bar and Cafe in downtown Austin. This year, the show features new plays by Kirk Lynn, Jennifer Haley, Lisa D'Amour, and many more.

As in past years, the writers for Best Holiday get a theme and have one week to write a five-minute play based on the theme. Then, the actors and directors get a maximum of four hours of rehearsal and present the shows without even a technical rehearsal. Last year more than 140 people crammed into Little City for each of the performances. Audiences should come early to guarantee a seat. There are no reservations for this show, which performs two nights only Friday, December 7, and Saturday, December 8, at 9:00 PM. Tickets are available at the door for $7.

"We must be totally crazy. Tilt Angel hasn't even closed yet and we start it all over again in just a couple of weeks," says co-Artistic Director Jason Neulander. "But it's totally worth it. We're working with some of the most talented people around on these projects!"

For more information about these shows, visit Salvage Vanguard Theater's web site at http://www.salvagevanguard.org or call 512-474-SVT-6.

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