San Diego Playbill - Theatre News

WORLD PREMIERE OF BERZERKERGÄNG

San Diego, CA: Sledgehammer Theatre is honored to present the world premiere of Berzerkergäng by Sledgehammer Theatre Artistic Director Kirsten Brandt and directed by Sledgehammer Associate Artists Michael Severance and Jessa Watson. Opening Sunday, February 16, 2003 at 7pm at St. Cecilia's Playhouse, Berzerkergäng will preview February 13th, 14th & 15th and will have one Pay-What-You-Can performance on March 3. Performances continue through March 16, 2003.

Inspired by Richard Wagner's opera Der Ring des Nibelungen, Snorri Sturluson's Poetic & Prose Eddas, The Volsungasaga, and The Nibelungenlied, Berzerkergäng is a contemporary telling of the quest for love and power. When the dwarf Alberich steals a source of unlimited power -- the business world goes berserk. As Giants and Gods wage corporate warfare, a Valkyrie named Brunhilde must choose between obedience & love, forgiveness & rage, and desire & truth, even if it means her own doom.

"I have been fascinated with the correlation between the rise and fall of Valhalla and the struggle for power in the business world,"said playwright Kirsten Brandt. "I have had the idea for Berzerkergäng for a few years now, and it seems to be incredibly relevant today with the pending Armageddon corporate America is currently facing."

Part of Sledgehammer's mission is to create new theatrical events through non-traditional means. Past endeavors include The Frankenstein Project (1999), Furious Blood (2000), The Devil's River (2001) and The Universal Monster Show (2002). This will be the first year Brandt has not directed the piece. "I feel it time for the Associate Artists to have a leading voice in the theatrical explorations of the company," says Brandt.

Sledgehammer Associate Artists Jessa Watson and Michael Severance will direct the world premiere. "Having worked closely with Kirsten Brandt on a number of ensemble created pieces, we are honored to be given an opportunity to embark on this adventure that draws a parallel between myth and our contemporary existence,"says Severance.

"The ensemble we have put together for this event is terrific -- bold, brave and ready to jump into the next level of theatrical expression and exploration," says Watson.

Tickets prices are $18-$20, with discounts for students, seniors (62+), and active military. Tickets can be purchased by calling Sledgehammer Theatre at 619.544.1484 or emailing Sledge@Sledgehammer.org.

The creative team for Berzerkergäng includes: Michael Severance* and Jessa Watson*, Directors; Corey Johnston, Costume Design; David Lee Cuthbert#, Lighting Design; Jeff Mockus, Sound Design; Rosalee Barrientos, Stage Manager.

The cast for Berzerkergäng includes: Sledgehammer Associate Artists Janet Hayatshati* as Erda and Laura Lee Juliano* as Brunhilde, with Kati Behumi, Julianne Eggold, Chris Hatcher, Sean Jeffries, Nicole Monica, Sara Plaisted, Kim Strassburger, Brennan Taylor, Jason Waller and David Tierney as Alberich.

#denotes Sledgehammer Resident Artists I *denotes Sledgehammer Associate Artists

Kirsten Brandt (playwright) Brandt has been the Artistic Director of Sledgehammer Theatre since 1999. Her other plays include The Frankenstein Project(Sledgehammer 1999), The Devil's River (lead writer, Sledgehammer 2001), Lysistrata (adaptation for AtCourt Theatre 1994), and The Rite of Spring. For Sledgehammer, Brandt directed the west coast premiere of Susan Yankowitz's A Knife in the Heart, The Universal Monster Show, Richard III (Billie Award Best Ensemble), the world premiere of Kirsten Nash's rock opera Alice in Modernland, Kelly Stuart's Furious Blood (KPBS Patté Award), Sweet Charity (Back Stage West Garland Award), The Frankenstein Project (KPBS Patté Award) and The Devil's River. In addition, her acclaimed production of Kelly Stuart's Demonology was adapted for radio broadcast on KPBS-FM. Brandt has also directed for The Playwrights Project, The Fritz Blitz, OnBook OnStage, UCSD's MFA program and A.S.K. Theatre Projects in Los Angeles. She has produced thirteen productions at Sledgehammer notably; True West, The Ghost Sonata, and Valpariasio. In 1999, Brandt created STEP (the Sledgehammer Theatre Education Program) designed to promote literacy through drama for local schools. She is a co-founder of DURGA, the Women's Performance Festival of San Diego and serves on the advisory board for Coronado School of the Arts. Brandt studied playwrighting at the University of Birmingham, England (with David Edgar and Claire McIntyre) and graduated with a B.A. in directing from the University of California, San Diego. Brandt trained with SITI in Los Angeles 2002.

Michael Severance (Director) Severance is an Associate Artist at Sledgehammer and directed The Cask of Amontillado in Sledgehammer's evening of works by Edgar Allan Poe, Quoth the Raven, and produced the critically acclaimed A Knife in the Heart. He most recently appeared in The Universal Monster Show, Richard III and The Devil's River with Sledgehammer. He played Kate in The Taming of the Shrew for DURGA and has performed for North Coast Rep (The Batting Cage), Diversionary Theatre (Angels in America: Millennium Approaches, Porcelain), The Fritz (The Mutilated, Abducting Ariana, Midsummer Night's Dream, Mud, The Hideout, to name a few), as well as performances at Saint Paul's Cathedral, Ensemble Arts Theatre, S.C.A.T. and the acclaimed production of the Tempest on the Beach in Coronado. He has trained with the SITI Company in Los Angeles 2000 & 2002 and in Saratoga, NY 2002.

Jessa Watson (Director) Watson is an Associate Artist with Sledgehammer Theatre and has worked on the ensemble created world premieres of The Devil's River (Billie Award 2001) and The Universal Monster Show, as well as having played Queen Elizabeth in Richard III, Young Clytemnestra in Furious Blood by Kelly Stuart and; "the one in the red dress" in the award winning Sweet Charity with Sledgehammer. NCRT (Associate Artist): The Importance of Being Earnest and Travesties (run in rep), Fuddy Meers, As Bees in Honey Drown and First Night, Diversionary: Cloud Nine and Girlbar, The Fritz: Sexual Perversity in Chicago and Andrea Stolowitz's Asymptotes. SD Rep: Cabaret and A Christmas Carol. She is a graduate of AMDA in NYC and a Teaching Artist with Playwrights Project and the Sledgehammer Theatre Education Program.

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Over the past 17 years, Sledgehammer Theatre has emerged as a nationally recognized company known for intense dedication to the development of new American voices in the theater. Sledgehammer Theatre has created, performed and presented over 45 new theater productions including 18 world premieres and six west coast premieres. The company's work is distinguished for adventurous excellence and numerous artistic achievements; the repertoire is routinely recognized for spectacular use of space and design, prolific new play development, and vibrant performances. In Southern California, Sledgehammer Theatre functions as a regional center for the creation of new theatrical events. The company provides an environment for the exploration of theatrical forms; a laboratory for established and emerging artists; and an arena for public participation in the immediacy of new and provocative American theater.

Sledgehammer Theatre Fact Sheet

WHAT: Berzerkergäng
by Sledgehammer Artistic Director Kirsten Brandt
Directed by Associate Artistic Michael Severance and Jessa Watson

WHEN: Opening Night: Sunday, February 16; playing through March 16, 2003.
Previews February 13-15. Pay-What-You-Can Night is March 3 at 8pm.
Performances: Thursday -- Saturday at 8:00pm, Sunday at 7:00pm.

WHERE: St. Cecilia's Playhouse, 1620 Sixth Avenue at Cedar, Downtown San Diego.

WHO:
Design Team:
Michael Severance* Director/Scenic Design
Jessa Watson* Director
Corey Johnston Costume Design
David Lee Cuthbert# Scenic/Lighting Design
Jeff Mockus Sound Design
Rosalee Barrientos Stage Manager

Cast:
Kati Behumi as Woglinde, Gondul
Julianne Eggold as Wellgune, Geirahod
Chris Hatcher as Seigmund, Berzerker, Gunther
Janet Hayatshahi* as Erda
Sean Jeffries as Fafner, Berzerker
Laura Lee Juliano* as Brunhilde
Nicole Monica as Fricka, Gutrune
Sara Plaisted as Seiglinde
Kim Strassburger as Flosshilde, Grimhildr
Brennan Taylor as Seigfried, Fastow, Berzerker
David Tierney as Alberich
Jason Waller as Fasolt, Berzerker, Hunding

#denotes Sledgehammer Resident Artists I *denotes Sledgehammer Associate Artists

Background:
When the dwarf Alberich steals a source of unlimited power -- the business world goes berserk. As Giants and Gods wage corporate warfare, a Valkyrie named Brunhilde must choose between obedience & love, forgiveness & rage, and desire & truth, even if it means her own doom. A world premiere Sledgehammer event by Kirsten Brandt.

TICKET PRICES:
Tickets are $18 on Thursday & Sunday; $20 on Friday & Saturday. Discounts are available for students, seniors and active military with ID. Anyone under 25-years-old (with a valid ID) can get a $10 ticket on Thursdays and Sundays. There will be one Monday Night Pay-What-You-Can on March 3 at 8pm.

No fee to charge by phone! Visa, Master Card and American Express

TICKET SERVICES: 619.544.1484 during normal business hours. Or purchase tickets on-line at www.sledgehammer.org