Fabrefaction Theatre Company Launching Open Theatre Project Offering Free Admission to Public

8/24/2011

Fabrefaction Theatre Company Presents "Den of Thieves"

Fabrefaction Theatre Company, one of Atlanta’s newest theatres, launches a new initiative this fall: the Open Theatre Project. The Open Theatre Project (OTP) aims to provide meaningful and accessible theatre to metro Atlanta by offering free admission to every performance. The inaugural production of the OTP is a regional premier of "Den of Thieves," a raucous comedy by Stephen Adly Guirgis. "Den of Thieves" starts its run, on the house, September 15 and offers free admission each night through September 19 at Fabrefaction Theatre, located in the heart of Atlanta’s Westside Arts District.

A company dedicated to making the arts accessible to everyone, Fabrefaction Theatre presents this regional premier with an unprecedented offer to the public. With "Den of Thieves" they bring a fully staged production to the metro-Atlanta audience and, through granting free admission, provide a live theatre experience to arts lovers on a budget and locals looking for a fun and affordable night out.

"Den of Thieves," the outrageous comedy from Steven Adly Guirgis, introduces the audience to a ragtag crew of would-be criminals, who, despite enrollment in a 12-step program, find themselves in a heist so ridiculously botched that only hilarity can ensue. The play, balancing black comedy and truthful drama, features two recovering kleptomaniacs with food addiction issues, a wanna-be Puerto Rican drug dealer, a topless dancer, and the mob boss holding them all hostage. Guirgis, a prolific and celebrated playwright, whose most recent Broadway hit garnered six Tony nods, describes this show as a spiritual journey within the fabric of comedy and fantasy. His characters struggle to find direction both in their lives and out of their basement captivity, and the audience laughs every step of the way.

In describing the Open Theatre Project, Associate Artistic Director Jade Hawk stresses how free performances allow actors and audiences alike to keep the arts alive. "Our cast is full of active participants who want to do great work, regardless of the financial circumstances. Theatre for theatre’s sake." The intention of this program is to provide audience members with quality theatre that they can enjoy without sacrifice and to provide talented artists with an outlet. Through free theatre, the opportunity to become a lifelong artist or patron becomes available to everyone. As Jade Hawk describes, "Den of Thieves," with its urban sensibility, disregard for political correctness and clear structure of pure comedy, is the perfect show to launch a program as edgy, important and enjoyable as the Open Theatre Project.

"Den of Thieves" performs on selected dates September 15 through September 19. The theatre is located in West Midtown at 999 Brady Avenue. Every night 50 percent of the tickets are free, 50 percent of the tickets are under $10 (less than the cost of a movie ticket), and all seating is general admission. For more information please visit www.fabrefaction.org, Facebook or Twitter, or call 404-876-9468.

Fabrefaction Theatre Company’s mission is to produce classic, contemporary, and new works that speak to audiences of all ages, provide educational experiences and training opportunities, and cultivate lifelong theatre artists and patrons. Fabrefaction Theatre Company was founded in 2007 as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.