Making its U.S. premiere, Balkan Bordello holds a preview performance March 31 Off-Off-Broadway at La MaMa's Ellen Stewart Theatre. The play features an international cast and officially opens April 1 and runs through April 10.
A modern re-telling of Aeschylus' trilogy of anti-war tragedies known as The Oreisteia, Balkan Bordello was developed through international collaboration beginning in 2017. In an exploration of post-war life and the consequences of conflict, it tells of Agamemnon's return from battle and his wife's murder by her son Orestes, but now Orestes is portrayed as a gay man and refugee living with his partner Pilad.
"Understanding the past experience of communities in the Balkan region can help us find new ways forward, especially now with what is happening in the world," La MaMa's artistic director Mia Yoo said in a statement. "There is a real sense of immediacy and urgency in this production, at this moment."
Bietra Neziraj directs Balkan Bordello which was written by Jeton Neziraj, artistic director of Qendra Mediamultimedia. It was originally intended as a depiction of Kosovar warlords and the armed conflict of 1998-1999, but was reimagined with La MaMa in after the 2016 Presidential election.
Hailing from Kosovo, Serbia, Albania, and the United States, the cast includes Onni Johnson, Svetozar Cvetkovic, George Drance, Eugene the Poogene, Valois Mickens, Mattie Barber-Bockelman, Ivan Mihailovic, Matt Nasser, and Verona Koxha.
The production features music composed by Gabriele Marangoni, costumes by Gabriel Berry, choreography by Gjergj Prevazi, visual and light concept by Nico de Rooij, lighting by Yann Perregaux, translation by Alexandra Channer, and sound design by Damiano Mecca/Tempo Reale.
Performances are in English.
For tickets and more information, visit LaMaMa.org.
