Archive: Arts & Entertainment

Kitchen Theatre Company continues its 2017-2018 Season with the regional premiere of Ironbound by Martyna Majok, a gritty, honest, and at times humorous look at an immigrant experience in America. Performances of Ironbound begin at the Kitchen Theatre Company in The Percy Browning Performance Space on January 21 and run through February 4.

Hard-working Polish immigrant Darja lives in Elizabeth, NJ and stays afloat doing various factory and cleaning jobs. With a child to support, she is done dating cheaters and dreamers. Over the course of two decades and three relationships, Darja must decide how hard she's willing to fight for herself and the only thing that matters more-her son. From rising star Martyna Majok comes a portrait of a woman for whom love is a luxury-and a liability-when struggling to survive in America. Tough but hopeful, the play raises questions about poverty, the immigrant experience, the value of relationships, and what we are willing to sacrifice. The Washington Post says of the play, "You seldom see plays that are both harsh and wonderful, but that is the balance that Polish-born playwright Martyna Majok strikes."

Darja is played by New York City actor Kate MacCluggage. She is joined by three actors with Ithaca College connections: her first love, Maks, a blues musician who came with Darja from Poland to the U.S., is played by Ithaca College graduate Marcin Mesa; current Ithaca College sophomore Adrian Abel Amador plays the teenage Vic, and Ithaca College Assistant Professor of Acting Austin Jones plays Tommy, Darja's most recent lover. Kitchen Theatre Company Producing Artistic Director M. Bevin O'Gara directs.

"Ironbound is a play I've been wanting to direct since I first read it," says M. Bevin O'Gara. "It speaks to so many concerns and issues that are important to examine at this moment, and it asks us to see beyond the headlines, beyond our own assumptions and into the lives of people who for a long time have been unseen. I am thrilled to dig into this truthful play with an extremely talented cast of local and NYC actors and a great design team."

Scenic and lighting design is by David Arsenault, another Ithaca College alum. His work has been seen on stages across the country, including a dozen productions at the Kitchen. Sound design is by Lesley Greene, the Kitchen's Associate Producing Director. Costume design is by Lisa Boquist. The Props Designer is Megan Parker. Lizzie King-Hall is the dialect coach, and Ithaca musician Nate Marshall is the musical coach. The assistant director is Zoë Golub-Sass, the assistant stage manager is Loren Roth, and the Production Stage Manager is Jennifer Schilansky. Brendan Komala is providing Technical Direction.

Special events for Ironbound include Pay What You Can Nights on January 21 and 23 and Actors' Forum discussions after the show on January 26 and February 2. There will be a free post-show talk on Sunday, January 28.

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