[ This Just In! ]

For Immediate Release
Date: January 15, 2002

SVT to Present Fugitive Pieces

AUSTIN, TX--Salvage Vanguard Theater presents the local debut of award-winning Latina playwright Caridad Svich with her critically-acclaimed script Fugitive Pieces, directed by Jason Neulander.

In Fugitive Pieces, Downcast Mary is a young woman grown brick-tough from run-ins with the law. Troubled John is a dreamer who cobbles together worlds in his mind to escape to when his frail body buckles. Together, these two drifters make their way across a patchwork America, scraping together food, shelter, and a path to redemption. Gritty and sweet, terrifying and uplifting, Fugitive Pieces offers a fractured glmpse into the underbelly of America.

Caridad Svich is a Los Angeles-based playwright. She and Neulander met at the ASK Theater Projects retreat in LA in 1998. Svich's credits include an NEA/TCG Residency at the Mark Taper Forum (1997-1999), residencies at the Royal Court Theatre and the Wexner Center for the Arts. She has taught playwriting at Yale School of Drama and is currently the Reynolds Playwright in Residence at Denison University in Ohio. Her work has been produced around the country, including Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, and New York. Fugitive Pieces, which premiered at Kitchen Dog in Dallas, marks her Austin debut. Svich will be in Austin for the opening and will do a reading and book signing at Book People while she is in town.

Of Fugitive Pieces' premiere, The Dallas Morning News said: "The play challenges its audience ... but Ms. Svich redeems them through her understanding and compassion, and suggests the entire world might be redeemed in just that way."

"Caridad and I really connected when we first met," says Neulander. "It's great to finally be able to produce and direct one of her plays. And this show is truly powerful. We had our first readthrough last night and it packed a whallop."

Award-winning actor Judson Jones will be playing Troubled John. Lee Eddy (featured on the cover of the Austin Chronicle January 4) is playing Downcast Mary. Austin arts legend Beverly Bajema plays Providence. And veteran SVT actor Corey Gagne plays Israfel and multiple ghosts.

The designers include set by Stephen Pruitt (Requiem for Tesla), lighting by Diana Duecker (Wallpaper Psalm and Tilt Angel), and costumes by Meredith Moseley (Tilt Angel). The sound design, which is played on a custom-made instrument created from found metal and glass, is by Jeremy Lee (Tilt Angel), who has designed sound for companies such as Cleveland Playhouse and Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

"I feel lucky to be able to be working with such talented people. The designs are breathtaking and I couldn't ask for a better cast," says Neulander.

Fugitive Pieces opens Friday, February 22 and runs Thursday - Saturday through March 16, with two Sunday performances March 3 and 10. All shows are at 8 PM at Hyde Park Theatre (511 West 43rd St). Tickets are $15 ($10 s/s/a) and are available at the door and online at <http://www.salvagevanguard.org>. Thursdays are "Starving Artist Nite", half-off with a canned food donation. For unpaid reservations and information about the show, call (512) 474-SVT-6.

In June, Salvage Vanguard Theater will present its radio serials The Intergalactic Nemesis and Return of the Intergalactic Nemesis in rep for an extended run. In October, the company presents the world premiere of its new opera MotherBone, with music by Graham Reynolds (Golden Arm Trio) and libretto by Karen Hartman.

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