UT Department of Theatre and Dance Presents
The Word-Premiere of
FIGHT
A New Play By by Kimber Lee
November 12-21, 2010
At the Oscar G. Brockett Theatre

Event: The University of Texas at Austin Department of Theatre and Dance presents the world-premiere of FIGHT, a new play by third-year MFA in Playwriting candidate, Kimber Lee and directed by Associate Professor of Theatre Technology, Charles Otte, and Lee. Live combat and a full sized-boxing ring take over the stage as Dani Perez, on the run from the oppressive silence of her aunt’s Brooklyn apartment, starts training at the boxing gym where her estranged father once reigned supreme. As she works to learn the sweet science of boxing, Dani finds that true victory in the ring comes not only through strength and speed, but also through persistence, hard work, and having the heart to stand, face her own worst fears and never give up.

When: Nov. 12, 14, 17, 18, 19 at 8 p.m. and Nov. 14, 21 at 2 p.m.

Where: Oscar G. Brockett Theatre in F. Loren Winship Drama Building (WIN) at the intersection of 23rd Street and San Jacinto.

Tickets: $20 public, $17 faculty/staff and seniors, $10 students. Now on sale at the following authorized ticket outlets: Bass Concert Hall Box Office, most H-E-B stores and all Texas Box Office outlets, online at TexasPerformingArts.org , or by calling 512-477-6060 or 800-982-BEVO.

Background: Written during the summer of 2009 in Brooklyn, New York, FIGHT received an informal reading with professional actors in Seattle, WA in August 2009, and another informal reading in Austin, TX in September 2009. It has been chosen as a finalist in the O’Neill National Playwrights Conference, a mainstage selection for the Great Plains Theatre Conference, recipient of the Holland New Voices Award, a finalist in the Bay Area Playwrights Festival, and a Semi-Finalist in the Seven Devils Playwrights Conference.

The development of FIGHT is also supported by coursework in the Department of Theatre and Dance MFA in Playwriting Program, with direction and mentoring by Wendy C. Goldberg (Artistic Director, O’Neill National Playwrights Conference), and Kirk Lynn and Steven Dietz (UT Austin Faculty).

Kimber Lee is a graduate student in The University of Texas at Austin MFA Playwriting Program. Before returning to school, Kimber worked as a professional actor, theatre administrator, and director. Acting credits include work with A Contemporary Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, California Shakespeare Festival, Intiman Theatre, Seattle Children’s Theatre, and Indiana Repertory Theatre; and her writing has been published nationally in KoreAm Journal and Audrey Magazine. Her plays have been produced in Seattle, NYC, Aspen, and San Diego. She also served as Associate Director for Mo`olelo Performing Arts Company in San Diego, and recently returned from a summer working as the Literary Resident at Playwrights Horizons in NYC.

Creative Director Charles Otte has over twenty years experience creating award-winning content for theatre, attractions, special events, and multi-media venues, and he is currently developing a program in Integrated Media with Live Performance at The University of Texas at Austin. A graduate in film production from the University of Southern California, Otte’s work can be seen onstage and onscreen where he received the John Huston award for directing excellence for “Blind Faith.”

Contact: Amanda Flores 512.232.5337, amflores@austin.utexas.edu
Gene Bartholomew 512.471.0632, gbartholomew@texasperformingarts.org