September 28 – October 14, 2012

Wed – Friday at 7:30pm, Sat at 2:30pm & 7:30pm, Sun at 2:30pm
*Opens Friday, September 28

By Catherine Filloux
Directed by Jose Zayas
Music by Sergio R. Reyes
A Watson Arts Project

From the garbage dump in Guatemala City, to the tent cities in Haiti, to the toxic oil ponds where birds expire, Luz, Helene and Zia –survivors of targeted violence—with the help of human rights lawyer Alexandra search for hope in the unlikeliest, in-between places. LUZ is a play that is at once volatile and tender, entertaining and surreal.

For more information visit www.watsonarts.org

Sharon Friedman on Luz by Catherine Filloux from culturehub on Vimeo.

Stage Manager: Shannon O’Neil
Set Designer: Maruti Evans
Lighting Designer: Yi Zhao
Costume Designer: Carla Bellisio
Sound Designer: David Lawson
Puppet Design: Emily DeCola and The Puppet Kitchen

Starring Kim Brockington*, Peter Jay Fernandez*, Lynnette R. Freeman*, Bobby Plasencia*, Kimber Riddle*, Steven Rishard*, Julissa Roman, and Teresa Yenque*

Puppeteer: Chloe Moser and Kiku Sakai.

* Actors appearing courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association.

Additional Programs

There will be a series of talkbacks and panel discussions after select shows.

Saturday, September 29, 2012, 2:30pm Performance
Post-matinee performance panel with Jayne E. Fleming, human rights lawyer at Reed Smith and Grahame Russell, co-director of Rights Action

Thursday, October 4, 2012, 7:30pm Performance
Post-performance: Carol Martin, Professor of Drama at Tisch School of the Arts, New York University, interviews Catherine Filloux about writing LUZ

Saturday, October 6, 2012, 2:30pm Performance
Post-matinee performance panel “Human Rights, Violence and Gender” with Sharon Friedman, Associate Professor of Modern Drama and Literature, the Gallatin School of New York University and Wendy S. Hesford, Professor of English at The Ohio State University with affiliate appointments in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and Comparative Studies

Wednesday, October 10, 2012, 7:30pm Performance
Post-performance panel “Silences/Speaking Out” with Pamela Lynam Mahon, Former Assistant District Attorney, Special Victims Bureau and Marie Cruz Soto, Ph.D., Cultural Historian, the Gallatin School of New York University

Thursday, October 11, 2012, 7:30pm Performance
Post-performance panel with Daniel Wilkinson, Deputy Director, Americas Division, Human Rights Watch and Matthew Kennis, Guatemala Country Specialist for Amnesty International USA

Saturday, October 13, 2012, 2:30pm Performance
Post-matinee-performance panel “The Launching of LUZ Community Outreach Project” with Regina Edmonds, Professor Emerita of Psychology and former director of Women’s Studies Program, Assumption College and student activists TBA (luzcop.com)

This project was made possible in part with public funds from the Manhattan Community Arts Fund, supported by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and administered by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council; and with public funds from the Fund for Creative Communities, supported by New York State Council on the Arts and administered by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council; as well as Local Arts Support, Brooklyn Arts Council/NYSCA; Lambent Foundation grant (Tides Center); Off Broadway Angels; Puffin Foundation; and Spunk Fund.

Press for LUZ:
“Play Inspires Human Rights Panel Discussion at La Mama Theater” by Serena Solomon at DNAinfo.com.
Interview with Catherine Filloux by Lydia Stryk at Howl Round
“La MaMa Host LUZ Talk Back, 10/13” at Broadwayworld.com

Written by Catherine Filloux
Directed by Jose Zayas
Music by Sergio R. Reyes