Mirror Stage's FEED YOUR MIND Reading Series to Return with IN THE BOOK OF…, 2/9-10

Mirror Stage continues its popular Feed Your Mind staged reading series with the West Coast premiere of In the Book Of... by award-winning playwright John Walch at the Ethnic Cultural Theatre on February 9 and 10, 2013. Directed by Suzanne M. Cohen, Feed Your Mind: In the Book Of... features Trick Danneker (Bo Jr.), Duygu Erdo?an (Anisah), Tracy Michelle Hughes (Naomi), Jason Marr (Eddie), Michael Patten (Bo Sr.) and Amy Thone (Gail).

War, immigration, and their political and personal impact take center stage in this powerful West Coast premiere by John Walch. Two women-Naomi, an African-American Army lieutenant, and Anisah, her Afghan translator-lose their husbands in the war. Upon discharge, Naomi uses forged documents to save Anisah from imminent danger by bringing her home to Mississippi. But does Naomi's act of kindness kindle a new war on the home front? Family, friendship, faith and the American Way are all tested in this funny, touching and timeless story adapted from the Old Testament's Book of Ruth.

Mirror Stage's innovative Feed Your Mind series of staged readings examines topical issues from different perspectives. The plays are presented simply: no costumes or sets-just the actors and the text. Following every performance, a moderated discussion with the audience and artists further explores the issues raised in more depth.

John Walch's plays include In The Book Of..., Tea-Totaled, The Dinosaur Within, Circumference of a Squirrel, The Nature of Mutation, Jesting with Edged Tools, Craving Gravy or Love in the Time of Cannibalism, Alice Threw the Looking Glass (a parody of Strunk and White's The Elements of Style), Iraq: A Love Story, as well as numerous one acts, collaborations, and shorts. His plays have been produced at theaters such as Center Theatre Group (Mark Taper Forum), Actors Theatre of Louisville, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey, Barter Theatre, Theatre @ Boston Court, Kitchen Dog, New Jersey Rep, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and Off-Broadway at Urban Stages. Awards include the Kennedy Center Fund for New American Plays; the American Theatre Critics Association's Osborn Award; the Frederick Loewe Award, the Charlotte Woolard Award, the Marc Klein Playwriting Award; and three Austin Critics Table Awards. John was a James Michener Fellow at the Michener Center for Writers at University of Texas at Austin, where he earned his MFA in Playwriting. He lives in Brooklyn, and is a resident playwright of New Dramatists.

The Ethnic Cultural Theatre is located at 3940 Brooklyn Ave NE in Seattle. Performances will be Saturday at 8:00pm and Sunday at 2:00pm. Saturday admission is $10, and Sunday admission is $8. Half-price tickets are available for Senior Citizens and students, and every performance has 10 Pay-What-You-Can rush tickets ($1 minimum) for purchase at the door. Free parking is available in University of Washington's lot W12, located at just south of the Ethnic Cultural Theater on Brooklyn Ave NE. For more information, visit www.mirrorstage.org/inthebookof.

Originally founded in 1991, Mirror Stage is a small professional theatre company reflecting the diversity of the community on stage in high quality, progressive, thought-provoking productions that play it smart without always playing it safe. The mission of Mirror Stage is to use the power of theatre to challenge assumptions, bias and prejudice, while encouraging more thoughtful reflection on today's issues. We nurture unique artistic voices while providing opportunities for newly emerging artists to work alongside more seasoned professionals. More at www.mirrorstage.org.

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