Jack London’s The Iron Heel Performance In Jack London State Historic Park (8.23.15)

 Jack London’s The Iron Heel Performance In Jack London State Historic Park  

Writer’s Descendants Bring His Novel to the Stage

When:             12 NOON Sunday, August 23, 2015

Where:            Jack London State Historic Park in Glen Ellen, CA                                                       (http://www.jacklondonpark.com)  

What:              THE IRON HEEL THEATRE COLLECTIVE & SIGNDANCE   COLLECTIVE INTERNATIONAL PRESENT THE IRON HEEL,   BASED ON THE NOVEL BY JACK LONDON

This dramatic, multi-media Readers Theater production based on Jack London’s pioneering novel utilizes mask, puppetry, dance, performance and live music.  Giant hand-painted cantastoria panels depict key episodes from the story, a collage of past and present political realities—‘Ernest Confronts the 1%,’ ‘The General Strike,’ ‘The Rise of The Iron Heel,’ ‘The Battle of Chicago’ and ‘The Brotherhood of Man.’ The theatrical event was commissioned for its premier in Ankara, Turkey at the 8th Annual Ankara ETHOS International Theater Festival.

The Iron Heel, originally published in 1908, is a dystopian science fiction novel that predicted the First World War, the rise of fascism, authoritarianism, and the brutal suppression of movements for social change.  The message is a timely warning in this era of corporate domination of the political process.

 

The production features London’s great-granddaughter, Tarnel Abbott, as the socialite-turned-revolutionary, Avis Everhard, and his great-great grandson, Devin O’Keefe as the anti-capitalist organizer, Ernest Everhard.  Isolte Avila and David Bower from the European-based Signdance Collective International, which participated in the premier production in Ankara, are artistic collaborators on this production.  Also featured are Artistic Director Regina Gilligan, Mask/Puppet Director David Solnit, and guest musician Andrés Soto on saxophone. Cast and crew include Amanda Bellerby, Glynnis Fowler, Nina Ruymaker, Patsy Byers, Paunika Jones, Shane Shambhu and Shoshana Wechsler.

 

The Jack London State Historic Park charges an entrance fee of $10.00 per vehicle.  Cast and crew request a donation of  $5.00-$30.00 but no one will be turned away for lack of funds.

 

Proceeds beyond production expenses will be donated to the Richmond Progressive Alliance (http://richmondprogressivealliance.net), the Sunflower Alliance  (http://www.sunflower-alliance.org), and Signdance Collective International  (http://www.signdancecollectiveinternational.com).   

CONTACT:  Tarnel Abbott  (510) 910-4510   tarnelabbott@comcast.net