For Immediate Release Contact: David Domkoski Assemblage Theater david.domkoski@gmail.com (253) 761-8288 *Assemblage Theater* presents the West Coast premiere of Pericles Snowdon's haunting *Bluebeard*. Raised inside an abandoned church since they were babies, four women have been taught to fear the outside world. Locked in to keep them safe from an ice storm which, 25 years ago, brought the world-as they-knew-it to an apocalyptic end, the four exist in a makeshift society controlled by their tortured matriarch, Blue. This uniquely written tour de force highlights one of London’s finest young playwrights. In its west coast premiere, English playwright Pericles Snowdon's* Bluebeard *explores parenthood, political subjugation, gender, the environment, betrayal, and the apocalypse. The play, while dark and creepy, is charming and engaging with a fetching touch of dark humor. *Bluebeard*, presented by Tacoma's*Assemblage Theater*, opens Friday, May 31 at the Chapel at Urban Grace Theater, 902 Market Street in downtown Tacoma. Performances are Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. through Saturday, June 15; with two pay-what-you-can performances scheduled for Thursday, June 6 and 13. Tickets are $14 for adults and $7 for students (with ID) and are available at the door, and in advance online at Brown Paper Tickets. Information: www.assemblagetheater.com. Featured in the cast are *Kathi Aleman*, *Nicole Lockett*, *Heather Christopher,* *Kaylie Rainer, Annie Katica Green* and *Cherilyn Williams. * *Bluebeard* is directed and produced by David Domkoski, with original music by Stanley William. Production design is by Erin Chanfrau. The *Assemblage Theater's* production of *Bluebeard* is funded through a grant from the Tacoma Arts Commission. Additional funding came from a recently completed campaign on KickStarter.com "We all know the fairy tale about *Bluebeard*, who keeps his wives hostage, insisting that they be obedient to his will. It’s clearly a tale of patriarchal rule," said David Domkoski, the play's director. "How do we react to the tale, however," asked Domkoski, "when the controller is a mother bent on protecting her daughters? That's the premise which Pericles explores in his play. As the girls' mother asks*, 'Isn't it better to be put away somewhere safe than to get sent out to a world without a heart.'" *Post-play discussions with the cast and director are scheduled after every performance. *Bluebeard* was first produced in London, enjoying a sell-out run at the *Old Red Lion** Theater* and garnering *Time Out Critic’s Choice*. It then transferred to New York and the Toronto Festival where it won rave reviews and the coveted *Patron’s Pick** award*. * * * * *About the playwright* Pericles Snowdon began writing for the theatre company *Rare Accidents*during their tenure of the Old Vic Pit in Waterloo. He adapted Chekhov’s *The Duel* for the stage, retitled *How To Kill A Man In Twelve Steps*, and concluded the season with his first original play, *Inkland*. His next play, *Six/Seven*, was shortlisted for *T**he Old Vic New Voices* £5k prize and was produced at the inaugural High Tide Festival of which David Hare and Bill Nighy are patrons. In 2009 Pericles was selected by a panel of Radio 4 producers and artistic directors to receive the *£10k OffWestEnd **Adopt A Playwright* award. The winning play, *T**hey Who Lay in Fields Like Beasts**, *was then introduced by Ian McKellen at The Theatre Royal Haymarket. Last year his memory palace play *The Cat's Mother* was produced by all-female theatre company *FoxedUp*at The Courtyard in London, receiving 5 stars and a grant from the Arts Council.