RAT An Equisite Dream Of fire

[Bobby Mrozek <bby@earthlink.net>]

THEATRE PROJECT PRESENTS "AN EXQUISIT DREAM OF FIRE"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                       Contact:    Tim Brown
                                                (410) 323-9523
                                            funkopolis@lycosmail.com

FUNKOPOLIS PREMIERES
AN EXQUISITE DREAM OF FIRE
Explosive Theatre Piece Explores Insanity, Brain Disorders, and Mental 
Illness


Baltimore, MD (August 1999) -- Baltimore-based ensemble Funkopolis will
premiere AN EXQUISITE DREAM OF FIRE, a new collaborative theatre piece 
that explores the internal world of individuals with mental illness.  
The project is a co-production of Funkopolis, Towson University, and the 
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI).  Conceived and directed 
by Tim Brown, AN EXQUISITE DREAM OF FIRE makes its world premiere prior 
to its U.S. tour at Baltimore Theatre Project on Thursday, September 23 
through Sunday, October 10, 1999.  Tickets are $14 general admission, $8 
students and may be reserved by calling the Theatre Project Box Office 
at (410) 752-8558.

"It was a subject that I have kept cooling in my brain until I felt that 
I could touch it," said Virginia Woolf of her own mental illness, 
"without bursting into flame all over." So begins AN EXQUISITE DREAM OF 
FIRE, an original performance piece that traces the path of mental 
illness from darkness and secrets to creativity and understanding.  
Based on hundreds of personal testimonials and one-on-one interviews 
solicited from mentally ill individuals, Funkopolis has created a 
dreamlike, piercing original work that not only gives voice to a vibrant 
community, but one that connects the electricity of the brain itself to 
the dynamic atmosphere of theatre.

Funkopolis initiated a partnership in 1998 with the National Alliance 
for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), a national grassroots advocacy organization 
with a membership of over 200,000 that is the nation's preeminent 
organization for families and individuals dealing with mental illness in 
their lives.  With NAMI, Funkopolis began an intensive outreach program, 
designed to give creative expression and voice to those individuals 
willing to share their personal stories.  These interactions formed the 
foundation for the original theatre piece AN EXQUISITE DREAM OF FIRE.  
Laurie Flynn, Executive Director of NAMI, said "Funkopolis have captured 
the facts about mental illness in an artful and thought-provoking 
format. AN EXQUISITE DREAM OF FIRE is groundbreaking in its ability to 
reach audiences with this powerful message across a wide spectrum of the 
population."  Funkopolis is also working locally with NAMI/Metropolitan 
Baltimore, engaging local Baltimore members in a dialogue toward the 
creation of the project.

Following the world premiere in Baltimore, Funkopolis will be touring AN
EXQUISITE DREAM OF FIRE across the United States, including stops in New
York, Chicago, and Austin before arriving in San Diego in June, 2000 to
perform in coordination with the NAMI Annual Convention.

In addition to collaboration with a series of guest artists from the 
local Baltimore area, Funkopolis has established an artistic partnership 
with the Adult Swim Ensemble (ASE), a professional theatre company based 
in Chicago. ASE member and noted Chicago performer Brian Loevner has 
joined the cast of AN EXQUISITE DREAM OF FIRE in Baltimore as part on an 
ongoing exchange between the two companies, which will result in a 
multi-year collaborative relationship.

Funkopolis strives to investigate the individual experience of America, 
and our place in a rapidly changing, multi-cultural, multi-identitied 
world. Organized in 1996, the group performs and tours original theatre 
pieces and existing experimental plays throughout the United States.  In 
1998, they performed 3 STORIES TO THE GROUND at Theatre Project and in a 
celebrated debut at the New York International Fringe Festival.  Last 
year, their new staging of AUDIOPLAY: SAFE by Jakov Lind premiered at 
the BIG ART Festival in New York City.

Interviews may be arranged with the ensemble of Funkopolis, guest 
artists, or individuals or family members of those with brain disorders, 
via NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore by calling (410) 323-9523.  Theatre 
Project is located at 45 West Preston Street, in Baltimore, Maryland. 
The box office can be reached at (410) 752-8558.