  
ABOUT THE PLAY
What happens when wheeler-dealers on Wall Street use the Nobel Prize-winning concept of microcredit to ravage the world economy? Fast on the heels of the current recession, MICROCRISIS is a scathing satire that follows a smart, slick, big-vision banker as he draws a gaggle of innocent do-gooders into an outrageous global lending scheme, bouncing seamlessly between the U.S., Ghana, and Monaco. Never stopping to consider the destruction in their wake, the banker and his unwitting accomplices try desperately to stay one step ahead of the game.
The running time of MICROCRISIS
is approximately 85 minutes
with no intermission.
Frank X (as Acquah) and Hannah Gold
(as Lydia). Photo by Seth Rozin. |
Kevin Bergen (as Bennett) and Bi Jean Ngo
(as Clare). Photo by Seth Rozin. |
PREVIEW VIDEOS
OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS
IN THE MEDIA & ON THE WEB
InterAct Theatre's Philadelphia Premiere Production:
Bi Jean Ngo (as Beta Test),
Dave Johnson (as Randy),
Kevin Bergen (as Bennett), and
Maia Desanti (as Mrs. Chavez).
Photo by Seth Rozin. |
Hannah Gold (as Lydia), Kevin Bergen (as Bennett),
and Dave Johnson (as Randy). Photo by Seth Rozin. |
Ma-Yi Theater's World Premiere Production:
ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT
is the author of several plays including BIKE AMERICA, MICROCRISIS (Ma-Yi, NYC); STOCKTON (Ensemble Studio Theatre workshop, NYC); PEOPLE'S PARK (Victory Gardens Ignition Festival, Chicago); YIT, NGAY (published in Plays and Playwrights 2006); NEANDERTHAL LOVE (Sloan commission); BURY THE IRON HORSE; and PAPER GODS. His shorts include TENURE (24 Hour Plays on Broadway); ROANOKE (Humana Festival, Louisville); IN PARIS YOU WILL FIND MANY BAGUETTES BUT ONLY ONE TRUE LOVE (Humana Festival, Louisville; InspiraTO Festival Winner, Toronto); MOUSTACHE GUYS (Second Generation, NYC); VIRTUAL CONGRESS (Keen Company commission); THE ROOSEVELT COUSINS, THOROUGHLY SAUCED (Sam French Festival winner); and MAGICIAN BEN VS. THE WIZARD MERLIN (published by Smith & Kraus). He is a Heideman Award winner and a four-time finalist four years in a row, and winner of the 2007 Battle of the Bards.
Several of his short plays are published by Playscripts. Along with his wife Rehana Mirza, he is co-director of the Ma-Yi Writers’ Lab, the largest collection of Asian-American playwrights in the country. Other residencies include Youngblood (alumnus), Second Generation, Old Vic New Voices, and TCG Young Leaders of Color. Training: Juilliard (2012), Yale (2003). For more information, visit his website: www.MikeLew.com.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
co-founded InterAct in 1988, and has since directed over 35 productions, including Israel Horovitz's LEBENSRAUM (1999 Barrymore Awards for Outstanding Direction of a Play, Outstanding Overall Production of a Play, and Outstanding Ensemble), Gibbons’ PERMANENT COLLECTION (2004 Barrymore nomination for Outstanding Overall Production) and IT'S ALL TRUE (2001 Barrymore nominations for Outstanding Director and Outstanding Overall Production). He has twice been named "Best Director" by the Philadelphia Inquirer for the world premiere of GIBBON’S 6221 in 1993 and for LEBENSRAUM. Other favorite productions with InterAct include A HOUSE WITH NO WALLS, KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN, BLUE/ORANGE, NIXON'S NIXON, LONELY PLANET and GOD'S COUNTRY. Seth has also directed for the Fountain Theatre in Los Angeles, Blue Heron Theatre and the 45th Street Theatre in New York, as well as regionally with Act II Playhouse, Venture Theatre, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Philadelphia Young Playwrights Festival, and the University of Pennsylvania. As a playwright, Seth is the recipient of two fellowships from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, and his first two produced plays - MEN OF STONE and MISSING LINK -- garnered Barrymore Award nominations for Outstanding New Play in 2001 and 2002, respectively. He is also the author of REINVENTING EDEN, produced at InterAct last season. Seth has served on funding and/or award panels for the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Philadelphia Theatre Initiative, Philadelphia Cultural Fund, Philadelphia Fringe Festival, Theatre Communications Group, and the F. Otto Haas Award for an Emerging Philadelphia Theatre Artist. He has served on the Boards of the National New Play Network, Women's Theatre Festival, Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia, New Paradise Laboratories and Fresh Visions Youth Theatre.
ABOUT THE CAST & DESIGNERS
returns to InterAct after having last appeared in the world premiere of REINVENTING EDEN. Kevin is a Barrymore Award nominated actor and acting teacher. He is a member of the Resident Ensemble of Artists at People’s Light & Theatre and has appeared in over twenty People’s Light productions. Kevin was nominated for a Barrymore Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play for his portrayal of Harry Brown in MAN FROM NEBRASKA. Other Philadelphia region credits include: The Wilma Theatre, Arden Theatre Company, Bristol Riverside Theatre, and InterAct. Kevin has acted at numerous other Regional Theatres including American Repertory Theatre, Commonwealth Shakespeare, The Studio Theatre (D.C.), and the North Carolina Shakespeare Festival. He has toured the US with Shenandoah Shakespeare and abroad with American Repertory Theatre’s acclaimed production of THE KING STAG directed by Andrei Serban and designed and choreographed by Julie Taymor. Kevin has acted Off- and Off-off- Broadway and appeared in independent films, on “The Guiding Light”, and in several industrials and commercials. He is a graduate of the American Repertory Theatre Institute for Advanced Theatre Training at Harvard.
returns to InterAct after having last appearing in the world premiere production of Michael Whistler’s LITTLE LAMB. Other favorite InterAct roles include Molina in KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN, Sterling North in PERMANENT COLLECTION, Misha in BLACK RUSSIAN, and Carl in LONELY PLANET, for which he received the best actor Barrymore Award. Originally trained as a writer and dancer, he has performed with such institutions as the Arden (THE HISTORY BOYS), Lantern Theatre (MASTER HAROLD… AND THE BOYS), the Folger Shakespeare Theatre (THE WINTER’S TALE), and the Seattle Rep (TWELFTH NIGHT). MICROCRISIS marks his 11th production with InterAct.
makes her InterAct debut in MICROCRISIS. Hannah has worked locally with the Philadelphia Theatre Workshop and People’s Light and Theater. She has also performed with FullStop Collective and the National Playwrights Conference. Hannah is a graduate of Vassar College and the National Theater Institute.
makes his first appearance on the InterAct stage in MICROCRISIS. He has been a Philadelphia actor/creator/collaborator since graduating from UArts in 2003. Recent credits include Puck in MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM at the Lantern, and Vice Principal Panch in 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE at Theatre Horizon. Work with other local companies include Theatre Exile, Peoples Light, and Mum Puppettheatre. Dave has just returned from New York with his company The Berserker Residents and their fifth original show, THE LAPSBURGH LAYOVER.
makes her InterAct debut in MICROCRISIS. Bi holds an MFA in Acting from the Actors Studio Drama School, and a Bachelor of Science in Film & Television from Boston University. In addition to acting in theatre, commercials & film, she is also proud to be a teaching artist for the Arden, and a program actor for Philadelphia Young Playwrights.
makes her InterAct debut in MICROCRISIS. Most recently, Maia appeared as Anne in ALL MY SONS with Delaware Theatre Company and participated in this year's PlayPenn Conference, developing Brian Quirk's new play, NERINE. This past summer, Maia toured to the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston with Word Dance Theatre’s cross-discipline performance piece, PRELUDES, in which she portrays George Sand. Other regional credits include: Arena Stage, Capital Fringe Festival, Folger Theatre, Happenstance Theatre, Intersections Festival, Kennedy Center, NY Clown Theatre Festival, NY State Theatre Institute, Olney Theatre Center, Rep Stage, Roundhouse Theatre, Shakespeare Theater Co., Source Theatre, Taffety Punk, Theater J, Theatre of the First Amendment, and Woolly Mammoth. She can be seen this coming summer in Wilma Theatre's production of ANGELS IN AMERICA. When not performing, Maia works as a Standardized Patient for several area medical schools, and a free-lance acting and movement teacher. She is a graduate of the National Shakespeare Conservatory.
The design team for MICROCRISIS includes Set Design by , Lighting Design by , Costume Design by , Sound Design by , and Properties Design by . will serve as Stage Manager, as Production Manager, as Dramaturg, as Production Assistant, and as Technical Director.
SPECIAL PERFORMANCES
Opening Night - Wednesday, January 25
InterAct celebrates Opening Night of MICROCRISIS with a free reception immediately following the 7:00 p.m. performance. Sponsored by Saul Ewing LLP and hosted at Slate Restaurant, located 1 block west from InterAct's home at The Adrienne, at 102 South 21st Street. Join InterAct's loyal supporters as they mix and mingle with InterAct's cast, crew, board, and artisitc & administrative staff for an evening of good friends and great food. Featuring a few of Noble's best hors d'oeuvre and a cash bar.
Speaker Sundays
During the run of MICROCRISIS, InterAct will host several post-performance talk-backs to encourage further discussion on the issues it raises. Speaker Sundays, a series featuring invited scholars, community leaders and artists, are scheduled to follow 2:00 p.m. matinee performances on:
Sunday, January 29
Andy Lamas, Prof. of Urban Studies, University of Pennsylvania. Prof. Lamas' teaching focuses on the critique of capitalism and alternative economic institutions. He has a special interest in community economic development strategies, including microfinance.
Sunday, February 5
Mike Lew, Playwright of MICROCRISIS
and
Thomas Tirney,
President, Arlington Heritage Group, Inc. Mr. Tirney was a former Equity Analyst, Portfolio Manager from 1994-2009, working for Standard & Poor's, ING Barings, and American Century.
Sunday, February 12
Paul Glover, Founder of Ithaca HOURS, the interest-free microcredit local currency system that has become an international model. He is currently organizing Philadelphia ArtCash, for Philly's creative economy.
Coffee Conversations
Following the 2nd and 3rd Tuesday and Wednesday performances of every production, we invite patrons to grab a delicious cup of joe provided by Nook Bakery & Coffee Bar, then join us for Coffee Conversations, informal discussions with company artists. During MICROCRISIS , Coffee Conversations are scheduled for:
Tuesday, January 31
Wednesday, February 1
Tuesday, February 7
Wednesday, February 8
PERFORMANCE CALENDAR
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JANUARY
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31
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FEBRUARY
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SUBSCRIPTIONS & TICKETS
Purchasing Tickets or Subscriptions:
215.568.8079
InterAct's Box Office at The Adrienne, 2030 Sansom St., Phila
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Mike Lew (Playwright)
Seth Rozin 
