For Immediate Release: April 29, 2005
Media Contact: Oscar A. Claveria, BCKSEET Productions, 267.575.3007

After closing to sold out audiences in March, BCKSEET Productions' staging of Tony Kushner's Angels in America Part I: Millennium Approaches is returning to Philadelphia in May. The intimate Second Stage at the Adrienne Theater will provide the ideal space for the winner of the 1993 TONY for “Best Play” and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. This sometimes brutal, yet always beautiful portrayal of the American psyche previews on May 4 and May 5, opens on May 6 and closes May 22 with performances held Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 5:00 pm. Tickets are $16.00 in advance, $21.00 at the door and include a $1.00 donation to ActionAIDS.

When Angels in America first opened in 1993, critics and audiences welcomed Kushner's vision of an America trying to deal with AIDS and the ways it affected society. It demonstrated how various communities throughout the country were united by the consequences of this disease. Filled with moments of black comedy, biblical references, elements of Greek tragedy and spectacular dialogue, Kushner's play blends contemporary style and classical influences with brilliance.

Set in the mid 1980s across a spectrum of locales, Millennium Approaches deals with homosexuality, AIDS and spirituality in America. Just like the play's varied settings, its characters run a broad range of religious, ethnic and political views. Homosexuals, Mormons, Reagan-ites, Jews, drag queens and angels are among the communities that collide to compose the American psyche.

After HBO's recent adaptation of the play, Angels in America was thrust into the spotlight again. The goal of BCKSEET Productions is to express how this play's message is still important to America—and, more specifically, Philadelphia. The production uses unconventional casting to help audiences connect the play's characters to those who are currently most affected by AIDS. A pre-show exhibit and guest lectures by the director and dramaturgy will be offered to contemporize the themes and issues of the play. Additionally, one dollar from each ticket will be donated to ActionAIDS to support their efforts.

Gregory G. DeCandia takes the helm of Millennium Approaches. The Producing Artistic Director and founder of BCKSEET Productions, DeCandia has directed and acted in New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Guatemala. While in Guatemala, he also created the Colegio Interamericano's Theatre Department for K-12TH grades, and designed and refurbished the school's first black box theatre. Gibbs Murray, the scenic designer, creates a stark design that relies on the cast and simple stage devices to convey Kushner's hypertheatrical vision. Jessica Sentak returns as the lighting designer for this production. Michael Dees, who studied dramaturgy at Villanova University where he extensively researched Angels in America, organizes the exhibit and guest lectures as dramaturgy.

The assembled cast includes both Philadelphia theatre veterans and newcomers. Robb Spath, who plays Prior, was last seen in BCKSEET's January production of Pvt. Wars as Natwick. Prior's lover Louis is played by Dan Rich, a Phillies Phanstormer and experienced children's theatre performer. He was also seen in BCKSEET's most recent production, The American Plan, as Gil. Miguel Feliciano and Kate Brennan, who play Joe and Harper Pitt, have both recently understudied at the Arden Theatre Company. Brennan also understudied in this season's Annie Warbucks at the Walnut Street Theatre, where she is a school faculty member.

Tina Brock, who plays Joe's mother Hannah, is a Philadelphia Fringe Festival veteran. In 2004, she wrote and performed in Tales of a White Hoe and was featured in Azuka Theatre Company's Laura's Bush. Jerry Perna, who plays Roy Cohn, has performed in Philadelphia, San Francisco, New York City and Poland. His original solo piece Seven Men from Now will be produced in this year's Fringe Festival by Intrepid Theatre Company. Stedmen Croft, who plays Belize and Mr. Lies, was cast as Booth, an Actor's Equity role, in the Philadelphia Theatre Company's Top Dog Under Dog. The Angel is played by Nicole Benson, a newcomer to theatre, who has extensive experience in commercials and industrials. Kate Hurster will be guest appearing as Harper in a few performances. Hurster has worked with Hedgerow Theatre and the St. Louis Shakespeare Company. She was most recently seen in Mum Puppettheatre's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream as Titania/Hippolyta.

BCKSEET Productions was founded in 2000 by Greg DeCandia at Emerson University in Boston. Since its inception, the company has launched shows in Boston, New York City and Guatemala. This year marks its “Die Trying, 2005” season—its first in Philadelphia. Previous Philadelphia shows include last fall's Closer, this winter's Pvt. Wars and last month's The American Plan. BCKSEET Productions is a fresh theatre company whose mission is “to produce art with the talents of multidisciplinary artists who educate, entertain and enlighten society with the ideals of classical, contemporary and original cutting edge works of art.”

BCKSEET Productions' Angels in America Part I: Millennium Approaches is a co-production with The Academy Theatre in Bordentown, NJ, where it will be presented in June. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Giovanni's Room at 345 South 12th Street and cost $16.00. Tickets can also be reserved through Theatre Catalyst by calling 215.563.4330 and are $21.00 at the door. A one dollar donation from every ticket will be made to ActionAIDS.

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