Neo-Futurists Announce New Ensemble Members, Approach 10,000 Plays

Neo-Futurists Announce New Ensemble Members, Approach 10,000 Plays

(L to R) Jasmine Henri Jordan, Neil Bhandari, Connor Shioshita Pickett, Joanna Jamerson and Trent Creswell.

The Neo-Futurists have announced five new members to the Ensemble: Neil Bhandari, Trent Creswell, Joanna Jamerson, Jasmine Henri Jordan and Connor Shioshita Pickett. These new writer-director-performers are the first ensemble members to join the company since The Neo-Futurists launched their new late-night show THE INFINITE WRENCH in March. Beginning in the fall of 2017, the new members will join the cast of the ongoing late-night production.

Artistic Director Kurt Chiang said “the Ensemble welcomes Neil, Trent, Joanna, Jasmine and Connor to our prolific group of artists, to carry on our tradition of providing a place for strong artists to work, learn and grow. We’re confident that these new writer-director-performers will strengthen and challenge our particular aesthetic for years to come. I’m excited to see what they bring to the show and the organization.”

The new members will add to the company’s collection of world-premiere plays, joining as the Ensemble approaches the milestone of 10,000 original works written and performed since 1988. After nearly three decades of rolling the dice to determine the number of new plays created each week, the group of artists has written 9,979 original world premieres as of July 18, 2017.When exactly will the 10,000th play be performed? As usual, The Neo-Futurists have left that up to chance.

When exactly will the 10,000th play be performed? As usual, The Neo-Futurists have left that up to chance. “We usually place about six or seven new plays into the menu every Tuesday rehearsal, so maybe we’ll reach 10,000 by August, ” says Chiang. “When we’ll actually barrel past this milestone is up to the roll of the dice. But reaching it is a testament to the 71 active and alumni Ensemble Members that haven’t stopped writing and performing here since 1988.”

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