BRIEF SYNOPSIS: At first blush UNLOCKING DESIRE seems to imagine Tennessee Williams’ tragic heroine Blanche DuBois after "A Streetcar Named Desire". The setting is the Louisiana Retreat a New Orleans institution where she could have been taken. Blanche meets disparate inmates there that orbit around her evoking shadow characters in Williams’ play and people from his life, fleshing out the circumstances that began her downward spiral and that are still in play today. Secrets are unlocked, questions answered. But all is not as it seems!
2011 marks the 100th birthday of Tennessee Williams - our poet of the American Theater. And Neri's "Unlocking Desire," a 2 Act, 9 Scene play, is a fascinating homage to him. Come celebrate and see the world premiere of Unlocking Desire!
PERFORMANCES! 'Unlocking Desire' will be produced in a multimedia, site specific, world premiere production in the heart of Detroit at the Marlene Boll Theater located in the downtown YMCA at 1401 Broadway. Produced by KHOROS Inc. a non-profit Michigan arts organization founded in 1982.
Featuring Detroit Metro’s finest actors – Linda Rabin Hammell, Kenny Kono, J Michael Morgan, Eric Niece, Sean Paraventi, Yolanda Perez, Madelyn Porter, Sean Rodriguez, Kristen Wagner and Krista Schafer.
Artistic Direction by Barbara Neri, Directed by Detroit's John Jakary with scenic Design by Elisa Limberg of Berlin, Germany, lighting Design by Dave Early, Costume Design Jomarie Soszynski and projections of original photography, video and New Orleans archival images edited by Alivia Zivich.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD PRESS RELEASE
NINE PERFORMANCES:
Fri Sept 23 & Sat Sept 24 at 8PM and Sun Sep 25 at 3PM
Fri Sept 30 & Sat Oct 1 at 8PM and Sun Oct 2 at 3PM
Thurs & Fri & Sat, Oct 6, 7 & 8 at 8PM.
Tickets will be sold at the door: $10 for students with ID, $15 for senior citizens and $20 for Adults. Cash & Check only. Contact us to make a reservation if you prefer.
Appropriate for High School age & up.
PARKING: $5 parking across the street at Detroit Opera House Parking Center 1426 Broadway Street, Detroit, MI 48226. Metered parking on the street.
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PHOTO CAPTIONS
Image #1- New Orleans above ground cemetery St Louis # 1. Video and stills taken in New Orleans will be part of the multimedia Detroit prodution of Barbara Neri's "Unlocking Desire" Photo Ralph Neri
Image #2 - Postcard front for "Unlocking Desire" using New Orleans street sign with graffiti. Photo Ralph Neri, card design Alivia Zivich.
Image #3 - Elisa Limberg, scenic designer from Berlin Germany and resident artist at Detroit's 555 Gallery, created the site specific set design for Barbara Neri's "Unlocking Desire."
Image #4 - Sean Rodriguez as Hank and Linda Rabin Hammell as Blanche from Barbara Neri's play "Unlocking Desire" on Dubois St. in Detroit. See the entire slide show of images at unlockingdeisre.com
Image #5 - Cast for "Unlocking Desire" outside of Detroit's 555 Gallery where they are rehearsing. Back Row L to R – Sean Rodriguez, Kenny Kono, Madelyn Porter, Sean Paraventi, J. Michael Morgan and Krista Schafer. Front L to R: Linda Rabin Hammell, Eric Niece, Kristen Wagner and Yolanda Perez. Photo: Ralph Neri
Image #6 - Blanche (Linda Rabin Hammell) and Hank (Sean Rodriguez) from "Unlocking Desire" on Belle Isle. Neri's play evokes characters from Tennessee Williams' masterpiece "A Streetcar Named Desire." The play runs for nine performances at the Marlene Boll Theater September 23 through October 8. See the entire slide show of Detroit images at unlockingdesire.com Photo: Charles Toeppe.
Listen to the podcast from: Encore LIVE! - Unlocking the secrets behind 'Unlocking Desire'
Read John Quinn's review: Unlocking the past; unlocking the future
Hear the WDET interview with Rob St Mary. Learn about D/NOLA: Local Artist is 'Unlocking Desire' to build Detroit-New Orleans Connection