The Flea Goes Green

April 13, 2011

The Flea Theater is “going green,” with paperless programs, eco-education activities, and awareness blogs/vlogs in anticipation of its World Premiere production of FUTURE ANXIETY, a wildly conceivable dark comedy about what happens when our “bad habits” finally catch up with us. The eco-awareness play is written by Laurel Haines, directed by Jim Simpson, and features The Bats.

“The Gulf oil spill. Japan’s unfolding nuclear disaster. News of environmental catastrophes like these can make us want to stick our heads in the sand,” says Flea Artistic Director Jim Simpson. “This play is current, it’s now, and it makes us take notice. I’m certain that even our small theater can make a difference.”

Oscar-nominated actress and noted environmental advocate Sigourney Weaver (Avatar, Gorillas in the Mist) helps kick-off The Flea’s green initiative with a featured FUTURE ANXIETY advocacy blog for the Natural Resources Defense Council. Then starting on Earth Day (Friday, April 22), donations will be collected for both the NRDC and Earth Day Network after every performance.

“Art connects the dots – it has the power to make seemingly impenetrable issues resonate with people emotionally,” said NRDC president Frances Beinecke. “The Flea Theater’s newest production provokes those visceral reactions, using humor to make people care about the environment and motivate them to act. We’re delighted to be working with the Flea on this environmentally-focused project to inspire & inform their patrons.”

In addition, Whole Foods is donating opening night catering for the cause, and every Wednesday throughout the show’s run will feature special talkbacks with the playwright and cast and fun pre-show awareness activities. All this combines to make this production as impactful as it is entertaining.

“FUTURE ANXIETY sounds like a wonderful play and a very creative approach to building awareness about the environment,” says Kathleen Rogers, President of Earth Day Network, “It’s important to reach audiences in a number of ways, and we have been big fans of The Flea’s for years. We’re very grateful that The Flea chose Earth Day Network to support this year with a portion of the donations collected at the performances in honor of Earth Day.”

Discounted $20 tickets for FUTURE ANXIETY are available for Earth Day and each “Eco-Wednesday” with the code GREEN20. Call 212.352.3101 to purchase tickets or visit www.theflea.org to buy online and learn more about The Flea’s green initiatives, events, and FUTURE ANXIETY.

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