Whidbey Island Fringe Festival Presents OUTSIDER, 7/27-8/5

Whidbey Island Fringe Festival presents an evocative new play written and directed by local playwright and actor Gail Fleming. Outsider, opens July 27 and runs through August 5, 2012, with an art show on July 27.

Outsider is a unique blend of drama, music, dance, and the poetry of William Blake. WICA audiences are invited into the magical world of Flora, who has lived alone in the woods for 25 years tending her garden, gathering herbs, and drawing. With an indigenous sense of belonging in nature, she has developed an original language to communicate with everything that surrounds her. Flora lives a rich and peaceful life with her companion golden eagle, until Jay Thompson, a professor of biology interested in inter-species communication, "discovers" her conversing with birds in her meadow. The meeting has profound effects upon them both, as they each experience and confront the consequences of fear, loss, objectification, trust, and the intimacy of language. Outsider cast includes Judith Adams, Ethan Berkley, Jim Carroll, Lars Larson, Shellie Moore, and Marta Mulholland.

Fleming describes her inspiration for Outsider, “Flora asked me to tell her story. Considering the environmental effects of our "modern" attitude towards nature, I readily agreed. She would like for us to remember that there is reason for hope.”

Through Fleming's lyrical creation, Outsider invites audience members to explore the essence of their own relationship with nature. Fleming wrote and directed the musical Gaielle Remembering at WICA in 2003. She most recently appeared on the WICA stage in Kentucky Cycle, A Murder is Announced and The Laramie Project.

The Whidbey Island Fringe Festival (WIFF) allows adventurous artists and audiences to explore a variety of works: music; movement; everyday life and cultural performance; stage adaptations of texts and other materials; and the avant-garde and performance art.

WIFF presents audiences with high-quality work that entertains, challenges, and stimulates; provides a venue and supports Whidbey Island artists who create the work; provides a Summer Training Program for diverse audiences and aspiring local artists to encourage the growth and continued health of the local performing arts community; and creates experiences that solidifies Whidbey Island as a performing arts destination.

As part of WICA 2012 Summer Classes, Stage Craft and Performance, training positions are available for Outsider in build, costumes, paint, props, and stage management. Outsider is currently in rehearsal and opens on Friday, July 27 and runs through Sunday, August 5. Tickets are available through the WICA box office at (360) 221-8268 or 800/638.7631. The Whidbey Island Center for the Arts is located at 565 Camano Ave., Langley, WA.

WHAT: OUTSIDER, A play by Gail Fleming
WHERE: Whidbey Island Center for the Arts, 565 Camano Ave., Langley, WA.
WHEN: Friday, July 27 – Sunday, August 5, 2012; Friday, Saturday shows 7:30 pm and Sunday, 4 pm
TICKETS: $12

Friday, July 27 at 6:30 PM there will be an art opening featuring the work of "Flora" by Susan Zwinger. On Sunday, July 29, there will be a director talk-back after the 4 p.m. matinee.

For more information, call WICA, 360/221.8268 or 800/638.7631 or visit wicaonline.com.

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