Bridge Street Theatre Presents The Regional Premiere of LENI

Olivia Howell (Leni) and Roxanne Fay (Helene) in Sarah Greenman's "Leni."

The life of Hitler's chosen filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl serves as the springboard for Sarah Greenman's "Leni", a shattering exploration of narcissism, denial, and artistic and moral responsibility, coming to Catskill's Bridge Street Theatre for eight performances only, Thursdays through Sundays from May 17-May 27, 2018.

"There's no question Riefenstahl was a cinematic genius," says Bridge Street Theatre Associate Director and dramaturg Steven Patterson, who'll be giving introductory talks one half hour prior to each performance. "Pauline Kael called 'Triumph of the Will' and 'Olympia' the two greatest films ever directed by a woman. Techniques she pioneered are ubiquitous today - in advertising, photography, sports broadcasting. Yet her films also 'greased the wheels' for the rise of the Nazi Party in Germany. Was Riefenstahl, as she always maintained, simply an artist, attempting to create the finest films of which she was capable? Did she willfully blind herself to the moral implications of her works and to the evils of the party that engineered (and financed) their creation? Or did she know exactly what she was doing - glorifying, using, and enabling a fascist regime? What happens when artists allow themselves - knowingly or unknowingly - to become cogs in a propaganda machine? To what lengths will they go when driven by ambition and self-regard? Sarah poses these questions, and plenty more, in this electrifying, entertaining, and thought-provoking piece of theatre, and we're honored to be presenting its regional premiere."

Bridge Street Theatre's production features Roxanne Fay as Helene (the older Leni Riefenstahl) and Olivia Howell as Leni (the younger Leni Riefenstahl), who meet in the afterlife on an abandoned soundstage and confront one another, abetting and challenging each other's memories, lies, and evasions. The play is directed and designed by Bridge Street Theatre Artistic Director John Sowle, with costumes by Michelle Rogers and sound by Carmen Borgia. Production Stage Manager is Rose Biggerstaff. The production also features a profusion of historical photos and copious film clips from Riefenstahl's own works.

"Leni" will be presented Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2:00pm, from May 17-27 on the Bridge Street Theatre Mainstage, located at 44 West Bridge Street in the Village of Catskill, NY. The Thursday May 17 preview and the Sunday May 20 matinee are both "Pay-What-You-Will" performances. Advance tickets are available for $22 at Leni.BrownPaperTickets.com or by calling 800-838-3006. Tickets can also be purchased at the door prior to each performance (on a space available basis) for $25. Students age 21 and under are always $10. Admission to the pre-show talks is included in the ticket price. For more information, visit the theatre online at BridgeSt.org.

Events and performances in Bridge Street Theatre's 2018 Season are made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and by Public Funds from the Greene County Legislature through the Greene County Cultural Fund, administered in Greene County by the Greene County Council on the Arts.

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Roxanne Fay and Olivia Howell star in Sarah Greenman's "Leni" at Bridge Street Theatre

Performance Calendar:
Bridge Street Theatre presents
The Regional Premiere of
LENI
by Sarah Greenman
with Roxanne Fay and Olivia Howell
Directed & Designed by John Sowle
Costumes by Michelle Rogers
Sound by Carmen Borgia
May 17 - 27, 2018
Bridge Street Theatre Mainstage
44 West Bridge Street, Catskill, NY
Thursday May 17 @ 7:30pm ("Pay What You Will" preview)
Friday May 18 @ 7:30pm (Opening Night)
Saturday May 19 @ 7:30pm
Sunday May 20 @ 2:00pm ("Pay What You Will" performance)
Thursday May 24 @ 7:30pm
Friday May 25 @ 7:30pm
Saturday May 26 @ 7:30pm
Sunday May 27 @ 2:00pm (Closing Performance)

All performances preceded by an informative talk by Bridge Street Theatre's Dramaturge, Steven Patterson. Arrive at 7:00 pm for the talk.

Tickets: Advance tickets available at http://leni.brownpapertickets.com or by calling 800-838-3006. Advance Tickets are $22, $10 for students age 21 and under
Tickets can also be purchased at the door prior to each performance (on a space available basis) for $25, $10 for Students.