The Blue Room and Mythophobic Productions in association with FRINGENYC present ‘Hope is the Saddest’

Written and Directed by Jeffrey Jay Fowler

Created and Performed by Jeffrey Jay Fowler, Michelle Robin Anderson and Natalie Holmwood

*Direct from the National Arts Festival of South Africa*
*Winner of the ‘Best Theatre Award’ at the 2012 Perth Fringe Festival*
*Winner of the ‘Best Production Award’ in 2007 at The Blue Room in Perth*

August 12-24 – Five Performances
Sun. 8/12 @ 4:30pm
Sat. 8/18 @ 5:15pm
Sun. 8/19 @ 7:45pm
Wed. 8/22 @ 2:00pm
Fri. 8/24 @ 7:00pm

Runtime: Approx. 60 minutes, no intermission

Venue #8: The First Floor Theatre at LA MAMA
74 East 4th Street, New York, NY 10003

The New York International Fringe Festival – FringeNYC
A Production of The Present Company
August 10th – 29th
Tickets: $15-$18. For tickets and information visit www.fringenyc.org or
http://www.fringenyc.org/basic_page.php?ltr=H#Hopeis

Mythophobic Productions in association with FringeNYC presents Hope is the saddest, a heartbreaking comedy about three people lost somewhere in the outer skirts of reality, by Jeffrey Jay Fowler.  Direct from their run at the National Arts Festival of South Africa, Hope is the saddest was the winner of the ‘Best Theatre Award’ at the 2012 Perth Fringe Festival, and winner of the ‘Best Production Award’ in 2007 at The Blue Room in Perth.  Part of the 16th annual New York International Fringe Festival, the production will be held at Venue #8: The First Floor Theatre at LA MAMA, 74 East 4th Street, New York, NY 10003 for five performances from August 10-29, 2011. Jeffrey Jay Fowler directs.  The cast includes Michelle Robin Anderson, Jeffrey Jay Fowler, and Natalie Holmwood.

Theo is the most confused. Marion is the loneliest. But Hope is the saddest.
Hope is the saddest is a bright black comedy with tells the story of three loners whose lives crash together in a pool of blood.  Hope is a Dolly Parton fan, set to make the world a better place.  Theo is a lonely gay would-be inventor.  Marion recently inherited money, and moved out of the suitcase she grew up in.

Called “Witty and Profound” by The Sunday Times, and a “Beautiful Gem” by the South African National Arts Festival, Hope is the saddest was the winner of the Best Theatre Award at the 2012 Perth Fringe Festival, winner of the 2007 Blue Room Best Production Award, and the 2008 Equity Award for Best Newcomer (Michelle Robin Anderson). The first incarnation was a monologue performed at the Artrage festival 2006 as part of Shorts and Solos.

Hope is the saddest plays for five performances from August 10 through 29 as follows:  Sun. 8/12 @ 4:30pm; Sat. 8/18 @ 5:15pm; Sun. 8/19 @ 7:45pm; Wed. 8/22 @ 2:00pm; Fri. 8/24 @ 7:00pm.

Hope is the saddest is presented by Mythophobic Productions.  Director: Jeffrey Jay Fowler; Production Manager/Stage Manager: Emily Stokoe; Publicist: Paul Siebold/Off Off PR.

Playwright and Director Jeffrey Jay Fowler has written and directed Hope is the Saddest, Earth, Zen’s Red Mouth, The Rusalka Thread, and Duck, Duck, Goose!, all of which have been performed to critical acclaim in Australia.  He has a Graduate Diploma of Dramatic Arts from the National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA). He also has a Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary Performance from Edith Cowan University at the Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts. He has worked as an assistant director with Black Swan State Theatre Company and Deckchair Theatre Company.  He was also the composer and one of the key writers and devisers on the show Afterwards We’ll Go Away, which premiered at Artrage in 2005 and went to the Adelaide Fringe Festival in 2006 under the name Motor City Blues.

Mythophobic Productions an independent theatre company from Western Australia whose aim is to support the work of key artist Jeffrey Jay Fowler. Mythophobic’s work is made for the audience, serving the general public and artists alike. It is fun, thought-provoking and subversive.

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at http://www.fringenyc.org/basic_page.php?ltr=H#Hopeis, by phone at 866-468-7619 up to 24 hours before the show, in person at FringeCENTRAL (1 East 8th Street at Fifth Avenue) from 12n-8pm beginning July 20th.  Tickets are $18 at the door and can be purchased 15 minutes before each performance (cash only) at Venue #8: The First Floor Theatre at LA MAMA, 74 East 4th Street, New York, NY 10003.

Venue #8: The First Floor Theatre at LA MAMA is located at 74 East 4th Street, New York, NY 10003. Take the “F” train to 2nd Avenue or the “R” train to 8th Street-NYU.

The run time is approx. 60 minutes with no intermission.

Past praise for Hope is the saddest

“Filled to the brim with pathos, hilarity, wit and introspection, it captures its audience right at the outset and does not let go.  It is a commendable balancing act of solid, entertaining stage work.” – Brett Atkins, The Herald, South Africa, July 2012.

“The play is an exciting blend of stylised performance set in a world of magical eccentricity […]. It moves entertains and delights. Fowler’s direction is tight and precise incorporating many styles: dance-like physical action, realistic dialogue scenes, narration and music.”  – Ali Taulbut, The West Australian

“A touching and perfectly timed piece of theatre, from a group of articulate young artists. It represents the voice of a new generation of practitioners: Hope is the saddest is more poignant than sad; more joyous than hysterical. It is a feel-good production in which the characters demonstrate a naiveté we all long for.” – (2012 Perth Fringe Awards Jury)

“All three performers were captivating….very entertaining.” (Australian Stage.com)

“There is so much to like about this production. It’s witty and profound in its simple truth that all life is chaos. See it.”  – Jan Hallam, The Sunday Times

“A clever and extremely likable play from beginning to end, this play is certain to be a favourite among audiences.” –Perthnow.com.au

Past Praise for Jeffrey J. Fowler

“A relaxed Fowler was an excellent Frank. His own charm shines through Frank’s unsavoury views, increasing audience sympathy for the character and his opinions. It may not have been intended that way but it added a disturbing layer to the thematic complexities. […] Aggressive and amoral, he nevertheless exudes that sexual allure peculiar to disaffected youth.”
– Ali Taulbut, The West Australian, June 12, 2009

“Jeffrey Jay Fowler is compelling, completely believable, and comfortable in his role as ‘anti-hero’ Frank.”
–Xpress Magazine, June 25, 2009