The cast of Angels in America - beginning at Wellington's Downstage Theatre on Saturday 29th September - will perform a one-off fundraising drag cabaret show tonight at Imerst nightclub. "Come along, join the party and support the cast. Bring your momma, nanna, pappa, your puppie and your freak on," say the Almost a Bird Theatre Collective. Doors open at 10pm and there is a special 6am license extension. The entire $10 cover charge goes to the Angels in America production. Tony Kushner's masterpiece Angels in America Part I: Millennium Approaches is onstage from 29th September until 6th October at the Downstage Theatre as part of the 2007 graduation season of Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School. For the first time in years, the graduates of the national drama school showcase their final performance outside their own building and in the industry environment. “Angels in America will be an investment in a new generation of theatre makers and an example of how the industry can work together with Toi Whakaari," says NZ Drama School's Catherine Downes. "We are looking forward to being involved with this exciting, relevant new work.” This story about a struggling community is still as provoking, funny and humane for today's audiences as it was at the dawn of the HIV epidemic. “There is no other play than Angels in America that reflects so deeply the huge identity crisis that we as the world, a society and as individuals are experiencing at this very moment," says Director Willem Wassenaar Set in New York in the conservative mid 1980s, Angels in America is a rollercoaster collision course for a former drag queen diagnosed with AIDS, his arm chair philosopher lover, a Valium addicted housewife, her gay Mormon husband and a heavenly host of Angels. When even God has abandoned his responsibilities and the Angels are calling out for mortal guidance, the characters are forced to make their own decisions on freedom, sexuality, politics and religion in a universe that is about to change. To book for Angels in America, phone 04 801 6946 or visit the link below. A $20 preview performance is scheduled for Friday 28th September and there are special student rates throughout the season. Ref: Downstage Theatre (m)
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Saturday, 22nd September 2007 - 11:01am