Recognized as a month-long smorgasbord of queer theater, The Theater Offensive's "Out On The Edge" Festival will celebrate its 15th year from October 14 - November 11 in the Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts, 527 Tremont Street in Boston.

This year's festival will feature: the multi-talented writer, director and choreographer Thomas Defrantz and the World Premiere of "Queer Theory: A Musical Travesty!;" versatile Latina playwright and performer Marga Gomez in "Los Big Names;" the innovative choreographer and company David Parker & The Bang Group in "Nut/Cracked;" and Bread and Puppets' original and talented political satirist Paul Zaloom in both "The Mother Of All Enemies" as well as in special kids' performances of "Beakman In Person!" (November 1, 4 & 5). Free staged readings by local playwrights Letta Neely and Darius Williams are also set for October 14 and 15.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE (in chronological order)

PLAYS AT WORK - Staged Readings

The Theater Offensive's Plays At Work develops and premieres theatrical work by new regional artists in staged reading and workshop formats. Plays At Work features free public education workshops with featured artists, community dialogue about the evolving shows, and interaction between artists and patrons.

During this year's OOTE festival, T-Off will present readings of local playwrights Letta Neely ("Shackles and Sugar") and Darius Williams ("Chocolate Cocoa On A Winter's Night") on October 14 at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. and October 15 at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. in Rehearsal Hall A in the Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts, 527 Tremont Street, Boston. General
admission: $10 suggested donation. Tickets are available on day of show at the box office only. No advance reservations available.

MAINSTAGE PERFORMANCES

"Queer Theory: A Musical Travesty!" (October 19 - 22)
Written and directed by Thomas Defrantz. Co-Produced with SLIPPAGE.
Starring Thomas Bardwell, Margaret Ann Brady, Albert Chan, Amatul Hannan and
Eric Hubert

Witty play meets hilarious musical revue! Five characters travel the distance from the highest ivory towers of academia to the dive drag bar downtown. "Queer Theory!" pokes fun at how academics cannibalize the 'queer body' to the point of deconstructed beyond all recognition.
Can queer theory bridge the gaps between gay, lesbian, tranny, bi, same-gender-loving, S&M-ers, and their assorted queer brethren? Can we all just get along? Performances are Thursday October 19 at 7:30 p.m., Friday October 20 at 8 p.m., Saturday October 21 at 8 p.m. and Sunday
October 22 at 3 p.m. General admission tickets are $25. Presented in Rehearsal Hall A in the Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts.

"Los Big Names" (October 26 - 29),
Starring Marga Gomez. Directed by David Schweizer.

Direct from Off-Broadway, Marga Gomez will star in "Los Big Names," a new play
showcasing her signature blend of hilarious storytelling, spirited physicality and emotional muscle. Drama Desk Award nominated, "Los Big Names" is an autobiographical play set in two eras: the New York Latin show business world of the '60s and Hollywood of the '90s. It follows the lives of an unconventional Latino family of three pursuing their dreams of fame
and fortune. Performances are Thursday October 26 at 7:30 p.m., Friday October 27 at 8 p.m., Saturday October 28 at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday October 29 at 3 p.m. At the Roberts Studio in the Calderwood Pavilion in the Boston Center for the Arts. Tickets $34 -$39.

"Beakman in Person!" (November 1, 4 & 5)
Starring Paul Zaloom

Cult-hero Paul Zaloom IS the oddball, madcap scientist from CBS's hit TV series, "Beakman's World." In this kids show (ages 7-12), he amazes audiences with an interactive, science-comedy whirlwind of death-defying and belief-suspending demonstrations of intriguing scientific principles! Come see why the LA Times said, "The irreverent Beakman can satisfy nearly anyone's curiosity! Energetic, sarcastic, engaging, and funny!" Performances
are Tuesday November 1 at 11 p.m. (student performance), Saturday November 4 and Sunday November 5 at 3 p.m. At the Roberts Studio in the Calderwood Pavilion in the Boston Center for the Arts. Tickets are $12-$15.

"Nut/cracked" (November 3 - 11)
Starring David Parker and The Bang Group
Co-produced with Pearl Productions

Not your niece's Nutcracker! Her favorite Christmas show is torn limb from limb in this campy new vaudevillian ballet that mixes American swing, jazz and hints of Tchaikovsky with the traditional orchestral suite. Nothing is sacred--"Nut/Cracked" twists and melds tap dancing, singing and even thumb sucking into a percussive ode to American eclecticism! According to The New Yorker, "The classical is pushed but retains a sense of beauty even in the ridiculous!" Performances are Friday November 3 at 8 p.m., Saturday November 4 at 8 p.m., Tuesday November 7 at 7:30 p.m., Friday November 10 at 9:30 p.m. and Saturday November 11 at 2 p.m. At the Roberts Studio in the Calderwood Pavilion in the Boston Center for the Arts. Tickets are $34 -$39.

"The Mother of All Enemies" (November 8 - 11)
Starring Paul Zaloom. Directed by Randee Trabitz.

Bread and Puppet's renowned wickedly funny puppeteer and star of the CBS hit TV series, "Beakman's World" gives new meaning to the term "shadow government!" "The Mother of All Enemies" is a hotly politicized burlesque queering of traditional Middle Eastern shadow puppetry. The protagonist, a gay Arab immigrant artist, must outfox hordes of pursuing adversaries to find true love! Can he escape Homeland Security, al-Qaeda, Minutemen
vigilantes AND The Buttfart Genie? Zaloom juxtaposes this craziness against the uproarious, true story of the US Marines' attempts to recruit him to be their Arabic translator. Performances are Wednesday November 8 at 7:30 p.m., Thursday November 9 at 7:30 p.m., Friday November 10 at 7 p.m. and Saturday November 11 at 8 p.m. At the Roberts Studio in the Calderwood Pavilion in the Boston Center for the Arts. Tickets are $34-$39.

Founded in 1989 by Artistic Director Abe Rybeck, The Theater Offensive has
driven its ambitious programming to the cutting edge of queer culture and politics. Grounded in the commitment to build an activist-based artistic forum, the groundbreaking programming has become a vital arena for the unique voice of queer cultures, and has led to lasting coalitions between the varied communities within the queer umbrella. The group accomplishes accomplish this work through meaningful ongoing relationships with a range of arts and organizing initiatives locally and throughout the country, and by using any and all cultural tools to make a difference in the minds, hearts, and libidos of the queer and straight communities. Nationally recognized community programs include A Street Theater Named Desire and True Colors Out Youth Theater in addition to the Out on The Edge Festival of Queer Theater.

This year's "Out On The Edge" festival is made possible by The Theater Offensive's beloved community of supporters including: Astraea Lesbian Foundation For Justice, Boston Cultural Council, The Boston Foundation, Boston Women's Fund, The Cloud Foundation, Common Stream Foundation, The Funding Exchange's Out Fund, Massachusetts Cultural Council (a state agency which also receives funding from the National Endowment for the Arts); Haymarket People's Fund, LEF Foundation, National Foundation for Jewish Culture, National Performance Network, Starbucks foundation, Theater Communication Group, and individual donors.

A resident theatre company of the Boston Center for the Arts.The Theater Offensive is a member of the National Performance Network comprised of arts organizations located throughout the United States. The National Performance Network is made possible with major funding from The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts (a federal agency) and individual donors.

For performance updates, visit www.thetheateroffensive.org. For tickets, contact the BostonTheatreScene.com box office at 617-933-8600 or order online at www.bostontheatrescene.com.

-- OnStage Boston

10/12/06