For Immediate Release: September 1, 2006
Media Contact: Ginger Dayle, New City Stage Company, 215.563.7500

New City Stage Company is proud to announce a PHILADELPHIA PREMIERE of Angel: A Nightmare in Two Acts by acclaimed playwright Jo Davidsmeyer. Based on the harrowing account of Auschwitz survivor Olga Lengyel, the play tells the true-life story and trial of Irma Grese, the “blonde Angel of Auschwitz”. Using the setting of the Holocaust the play explores contemporary values, the question of personal responsibility versus universal guilt, and the seductive appeal of evil.

Angel: A Nightmare in Two Acts is a drama based on the trial and execution of real-life Nazi war criminal Irma Grese. Grese became a concentration camp guard at the age of sixteen, was prosecuted by the British in the Belsen trials, and was executed at the age of 21 for her crimes against humanity. A strikingly beautiful woman, she was dubbed by the international press as “The Blonde Angel of Auschwitz.” During the play, Irma’s prosecutor falls under her fatal charms. He is drawn, along with the audience, down into a private nightmare where the tables are turned and he becomes the accused. Also dragged into the nightmare is Olga Lengyel, a survivor of Auschwitz, who teaches the prosecutor a lesson about dignity and survival.

New City’s production of Angel: A Nightmare in Two Acts features some of Philadelphia’s finest actors, including Rob Hargraves, Arnold Kendall, Jackie Ruggiero Jacobson, Alix Fenhagen, Scott Evans and Ginger Dayle. The show is directed by veteran Philadelphia actor/director Neill Hartley.

The show will run from September 12 to October 1, 2006 on Studio 5 at the Walnut Street Theatre.

New City Stage Company was created to use theatre as a means of exploring current and pertinent social ideas and events.

New City Stage Company is dedicated to presenting high quality professional theatre that engages audiences on a variety of levels; not only entertaining them but also encouraging awareness of issues relevant to the community. We draw our season from contemporary and classical works, with a special focus on including Philadelphia premiers from playwrights whose work and stories are not normally found in the region.

New City Stage Company is a 501(c)3 not for profit producing company that employs both union and nonunion actors, directors, and crew. We commission and create fully mounted productions of plays that come from a variety of sources – classical works, contemporary plays, reader’s theatre, literature, film, and works-in-progress. We start the employment process in the region first, in order to utilize many of our local artists and technicians. We strive to bring as many Philadelphia and World premiers to the stage as possible, as well as presenting well known pieces in ways that are unexpected, unique, or nontraditional. Our productions are accessible to many facets of the community, with a special emphasis on bringing schools and universities in contact with our work.

For more information contact Ginger Dayle at 215.563.7500 or 215.603.9600.

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