Archive: Arts & Entertainment

Kitchen Theatre Company concludes its 2016-17 season with an encore production of Brian Dykstra's Clean Alternatives, a play about corporate bullying, environmental politics, and standing up for one's beliefs-with a little slam poetry and Zen Buddhism thrown into the mix. Clean Alternatives begins previews on June 4, opens on June 8, and closes on June 18, 2017.

Kitchen Theatre Company first produced Clean Alternatives on the 2006-2007 Season. Ithaca Times called the 2006 production "a powerful meditation on social responsibility and personal redemption, mixing razor-edged dialogue with a poetry-slam directness." It was also the beginning of a rich relationship with playwright Brian Dykstra and director Margarett Perry: since then, Kitchen Theatre Company has produced five more plays by Dykstra (four of which had their first productions at the Kitchen) and featured him as an actor in four additional plays. Margarett Perry has directed a whopping twenty-two productions here!

Artistic Director Rachel Lampert, who will be retiring right on the heels of this production, made certain to include Margarett Perry and Brian Dykstra in her final season at the Kitchen. "I am pleased that Clean Alternatives will be the final play of the 2016-17 season and the last play I produce in my tenure as Artistic Director. We have assembled a wonderful cast, Margarett remains at the helm, Tyler M. Perry has created a detailed and exciting set, Lisa Boquist is the costume designer and Hannah Kochman returns as the props manager. I look forward to the conversations this play will stimulate."

The cast of Clean Alternatives includes playwright Brian Dykstra as Mr. Cutter*, Vince Gatton* (last seen at the Kitchen in Cock) as Mr. Slate, and Lori Prince* as Jackie.
*Member Actors Equity Association

The creative team includes scenic andlighting design by Tyler M. Perry (KTC credits: Throw Pitchfork, Sex With Strangers, Dancing Lessons, Peter and the Starcatcher, I and You, The House, Thin Walls, among others) and costume design by Lisa Boquist (KTC credits: Sex With Strangers, Birds of East Africa, Hand to God, Precious Nonsense, The Mountaintop, Paloma, among others). Jen Schilansky (stage manager) has been the resident stage manager for the past 5 seasons.

Kitchen Theatre Company's production of Clean Alternatives has the Co-Producing Sponsorship of Maguire Family of Dealerships, the Sponsorship of Elissa Cogan & Barry Chester and Cornell University, and the Media Sponsorship of Ithaca Voice.

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