Get Behind Me Satan: Rock & Awe Series, Theatre That Rocks!

BRAT Productions wraps up the 2011/2012 season by shining the spotlight on the next generation of rocking theatre artists. Inaugural resident artists Jess Conda and Erik Ransom challenge misconceptions about what theatre is and can be with two shows that are down and dirty, rock-and-roll theatre for the people. Conda concludes her Rock & Awe series with Get Behind Me Satan, running Thursday, June 14 to Saturday, June 16, 2012, at Underground Arts, 12th and Callowhill streets, Philadelphia, PA 19123. Ransom ends his year-long residency on a high note with SAGA: The Rock Opera, on Wednesday June 20, Friday June 22, and Saturday June 23, at L’Etage, 6th and Bainbridge streets, Philadelphia, PA. Tickets are $12 each for Satan and $15 each for SAGA. Both shows are now on sale at www.BRATproductions.org and BRATproductions.ticketleap.com.

“BRAT is committed to supporting emerging artists in our quest to attract new generations of theatre-goers,” said Founding Artistic Director Madi Distefano. “We found superstars in our inaugural resident artists Jess Conda and Erik Ransom. They both came armed with ambitious ideas and carloads of talent. We gave them a little support, stepped back and let them do their thing. The results are two rockin’ shows that end a banging season.”

First up on the BRAT agenda is Jess Conda, who searches for the truth in Get Behind Me Satan, running Thursday, June 14, 2012 to Saturday, June 16, 2012, at 10:30pm nightly, at the Underground Arts, 12th and Callowhill streets, Philadelphia, PA 19123. Conda concludes her four-part Rock & Awe guerilla cabaret series in this revival tent rock show performance of this White Stripes’ album in its entirety.

“Get Behind Me Satan is a change of pace from the rest of the Rock & Awe series,” said Conda. “I will be looking at the album the way one would look at a script for a play. Instead of mixing up different songs and genres, we will simply be looking for a story within the album as performed from beginning to end.”

BRAT Co-Artistic Director Lee Etzold directs Conda, David Sweeny and Mary Tuomanen in rock parables about loss, betrayal and ghosts who witnessed it all. Bandleader Peter Gaffney, alongside musicians Evan Smoker and Zach Poyatt, perform the White Stripes as they’ve never been performed before.

BRAT’s season will come to a spectacular end with SAGA: The Rock Opera, running Wednesday, June 20 and Friday, June 22, at 8pm, and Saturday, June 23, at 5pm and 8pm, at L’Etage, 6th and Bainbridge streets, Philadelphia, PA. Composer and lyricist Erik Ransom wrote, composed and developed this workshop performance that channels the synth-pop sound of the 80s, as well as Nordic mythology and Wagnerian opera. SAGA serves up Ransom’s unique brand of Ragnarok and roll in this updated epic myth about people on the fringe of society. With musical direction by Henco Espag and direction by Greg Giovanni, SAGA challenges up and coming performers Zachary Chiero, Valerie Jonkoff, Daniel Kiernan, Eric B. Oliver, and Chelsea West with a challenging and ambitious new score.

Tickets are on sale now for $12 each for Satan and $15 each for SAGA at www.BRATproductions.org and BRATproductions.ticketleap.com. For more information about BRAT or the resident artist program, visit www.BRATproductions.org or email BRAT@BRATproductions.org .