For Immediate Release:

Overtone Industries in Collaboration with
By The Souls Of Our Feet Present
Part I of Cynosemma: A Dirge from the Dog’s Tomb

By Megan Breen and O-Lan Jones
A Ritualistic Opera Ripped from the Myth of Hecuba
Co-Directed by Nathan Singh & Sabina Zuniga Varela

Four Performances at Son of Semele
Friday, August 17 – Sunday, August 19, 2018

LOS ANGELES, CA – August 2, 2018 – Overtone Industries, in collaboration with By The Souls of Our Feet (BTSOOF), is proud to present Part I of their epic tale, Cynosemma: A Dirge from the Dog’s Tomb, running for four performances over the weekend of Friday, August 17^th through Sunday, August 19, 2018. Co-Directed by Nathan Singh and Sabina Zuniga Varela with music by O-Lan Jones and libretto by Megan Breen, Cynosemma is a ritualistic opera ripped from the myth of Hecuba. Part I is a ceremonial exploration of the ancient but immediate clash between possession and liberation. The infamous Queen of Troy (played by Jones), along with her daughters and a tribe of women face off with the men responsible for the fall of their city. The limited engagement will take place at Son of Semele (3301 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90004). Audience members are invited to stay afterwards for refreshments and a post-show symposium. For additional information, please visit http://www.overtoneindustries.org/current_productions.

Cynosemma, an equity approved showcase, will take place on Friday August 17^th at 8:00pm, Saturday, August 18^th for a matinee at 2:00pm plus an evening show at 8:00pm and Sunday August 19^th at 5:00pm. Total runtime is approximately 75-minutes, which includes 45-minutes of performance and 30-minutes for the post-show talk-back. Tickets are $15 in advanced, $20 general admission at the door and $18 for students and seniors. Tickets can be purchased at https://www.artful.ly/son-of-semele-ensemble/store/events/15701.

Cynosemma is choreographed by Kristin Condon. The full cast of Cynosemma: A Dirge from the Dog’s Tomb, Part I includes: Camillle Cardinale, Liz Eldridge, Lauren Han, Michael Harris, O-Lan Jones, Abe Martell, Livia Reiner and MJ Silva. 

Part I of Cynosemma: A Dirge From the Dog’s Tomb is a primitive opera that explores the ceremonial roots of the Hecuba myth. The action is structured via five visceral rituals marked as “stations.” Part I presents the first three of these stations. Station One conjures a creation myth in the realm of women, Station Two wrestles with rigorous power shifts between the masculine and feminine, and Station Three struggles with revering the dual heroism and devastation of a pivotal sacrifice.

The performance will be followed by a curated forum and collective reflection for audience and artists to complete the theatrical ritual, moderated by Megan Breen and Sabina Zuniga Varela. This post-show symposium will include questions about the contemporary relevance of classic Greek archetypes, and the possible interpretations of sacred masculinity and femininity in today’s world. Wine and snacks will be provided.

Son of Semele first encountered members of BTSOOF with a production of Serpentine Pink by Megan Breen and Directed by Nathan Singh as part of the Company Creation Festival. O-Lan Jones and Michael Harris starred in Serpentine Pink, along with BTSOOF members Kristin Condon and Sabina Zuniga Varela.

“I and the others in By the Souls of Our Feet are so thrilled to summon the visceral theatre gods with O-Lan once again,” beams Megan Breen. “She directed a magical production of a play with songs I wrote at USC and was absolutely riveting in our inaugural piece at Son of Semele – Serpentine Pink – but this collaboration with her as the Overtone Industries composer as well as the iconic Hecuba is the most exciting and epic. Her primitive and provocative storytelling aesthetic pairs so fittingly with the By The Souls’ mission to conjure poetic and raw theatre experiences, but Cynosemma most potently manifests how both companies’ fervent desire to fearlessly experiment with and create sensorially and emotionally invigorating mythical experiences packs an extraordinarily powerful and affecting artistic punch. We are so honored to work with such a brilliant myth-maker as O-Lan Jones!”

CAST & CREW:

Cast –
• O-Lan Jones – Hecuba
• Michael Harris* – Odysseus
• Livia Reiner – Kassandra
• Camille Cardinale – Leda [Ensemble]
• Liz Eldridge* – Agathe [Ensemble]
• Lauren Han – Polyxena [Ensemble]
• Abe Martell – Praxis [Ensemble]
• MJ Silva – Alexio [Ensemble]

*These actors are appearing courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association.

Crew – 
• Sabina Zuniga Varela – Producer & Co-Director [BTSOOF]
• Nathan Singh – Producer & Co-Director [BTSOOF]
• O-Lan Jones – Composer & Performer [Overtone Industries]
• Megan Breen – Librettist [BTSOOF]
• Kristin Condon – Choreographer [BTSOOF]
• Brent Crayon – Music Director [Overtone Industries]
• Fahad Siadat – Production Manager [Overtone Industries]
• M. Prudente – Stage Manager
• Darren Proctor – Drumming Instructor

ABOUT:

Megan Breen [Librettist] – 
Megan Breen is a playwright and poet in Los Angeles. She has a BFA in Dramaturgy from The Theatre School at DePaul University in Chicago, and an MFA in Dramatic Writing from USC’s School of the Dramatic Arts. Her plays explore visceral, lyrical worlds and have been produced in Los Angeles, Orange County, Chicago, Miami, and Washington D.C. She is finding a voice in L.A.’s vibrant poetry scene, and teaches dramatic literature, theatre history and playwriting at The New York Film Academy in Los Angeles.

O-Lan Jones [Composer] –
O-Lan Jones is an award-winning composer and actress. She is the Artistic Director of Overtone Industries, which creates original, mythological opera/music theatre, known in LA for Songs and Dances of Imaginary Lands a collaboration of 21 writers and 11 composers produced in a 25,000square-foot empty auto dealership, and The Woman in the Wall performed at the Masonic Temple in Culver City. She has originated roles in many plays, and is known for her work in Tim Burton’s films.

Nathan Singh [Co-Director] – 
Nathan Singh is a Los Angeles-based director whose work includes theatre and opera. With By the Souls of Our Feet, he directed Serpentine Pink at the 2013 Company Creation Festival at Son of Semele. He directed the opera America Tropical for the Autry National Center, La Plaza, and USC Vision and Voices. He also directed A Shipwreck Opera for the Definiens Project and USC Spectrum [www.nathansingh.org].

Sabina Zuniga Varela [Co-Director] – 
Originally from New Mexico, Sabina Zuniga Varela began her journey in theatre as a director, whose credits include: Rio De Lagrimas by Las Meganenas, Bernabé by Luis Valdez, Gas by Elizabeth Otero and Kino and Teresa by James Lujan. As an actor, she has appeared on the stages of The Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Dallas Theater Center, California Shakes, CTG’s Kirk Douglas Theatre, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, Cincinnati Playhouse, Magic Theatre and The Getty Villa. She is a member of By The Souls of Our Feet and holds an MFA in acting from The University of Southern California [www.sabinazunigavarela.com].

Kristin Condon [Choreographer] – 
Kristin Condon trained as a classical dancer with Boston Ballet and went on to perform across the country. She earned her MFA in Acting from the University of Southern California, and has performed on stage with numerous award-winning companies. She also appears in film, commercials and on television. Condon also hosts videos, narrates books and teaches movement. Most recently, she was invited to participate with a group of international theatre artists in Tuscany, Italy at the Grotowski Work Center, and is an on-camera trainer/producer of the Emmy-nominated interactive digital show Daily Burn 365. She makes her home in the DUMBO neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY [www.kristincondon.com].

Overtone Industries [Producer] – 
Overtone Industries develops and presents new multidisciplinary operas and music theatre, bringing to life vivid, original stories and myths. Founded in 1980 by Artistic Director O-Lan Jones, Overtone Industries is dedicated to creating original works of opera and music theatre. Since its first production of After Stardrive, Overtone Industries has produced and performed more than eighteen original works across the country at such lauded venues as La Mama in New York, The Met Theater, and the Ford Theaters in Los Angeles. Overtone Industries is the recipient of numerous awards including the Bay Area Critics Circle Award for Original Score, the Dramalogue Award for Best Overall Production, the Ovation Award for Best Costumes, and two Emmy Awards for best Original Score and Design.

Currently, Overtone Industries is developing ICELAND, a new music theatre work being written and composed by Artistic Director O-Lan Jones, and Irish singer-songwriter Emmett Tinley.

By the Souls of Our Feet [Co-Producer] – 
Founded in 2012, By The Souls of Our Feet conjures and produces visceral, poetic theatre experiences. Comprised of four alumni from the School of Dramatic Arts at USC, this company embraces the vision of Duende and seeks to reveal the ceremonial roots and healing power of theatre.

Son of Semele [Associate Producer] –
Son of Semele is a Los Angeles-based ensemble theatre company, founded in 2001, currently comprised of 25+ actors, directors, designers, dramaturgs and producers. It develops and produces innovative theatrical productions, and through a variety of programs support the work of likeminded artists who are taking bold steps in their work.

“I’m really enjoying using the Ancient Greek musical scales to compose,” O-Lan Jones muses. “They give the songs a power to transport you; to bring another time to life.”

Links – 
• Cynosemma Event Page – http://www.overtoneindustries.org/current_productions
• Tickets – https://www.artful.ly/son-of-semele-ensemble/store/events/15701
• Facebook Event Page – https://www.facebook.com/events/518654325231330
• Overtone Industries – http://www.overtoneindustries.org
• Overtone Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/overtoneindustries
• Overtone Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/overtoneind
• BTSOOF Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/bythesoulsofourfeet
• BTSOOF Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/bythesoulsofourfeet
• Son of Semele – www.sonofsemele.org

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For more information, photos, to schedule an interview, or to request complimentary press tickets, please contact Green Galactic’s Lynn Tejada at 213-840-1201 or lynn@greengalactic.com.