"First Vote" - an Irreverent Celebration Honoring First Time Voters

ONE NIGHT ONLY!!!
Epic Theatre Ensemble in partnership with John Jay College of Criminal Justice present
Kathleen Chalfant, David Strathairn, Nilaja Sun, and many more in

FIRST VOTE '08

Are you prepared?

An Irreverent and Celebratory Event Honoring First Time Voters

ELECTION EVE: MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3rd, 7:30pm-8:30pm

THE GERALD W. LYNCH THEATER
at JOHN JAY COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE: 899 Tenth Avenue (between 58th and 59th), New York, N.Y. 10019

On the night before they vote in their first election, a remarkable collection of 25 FIRST TIME VOTERS are honored by some of today's TOP WRITERS & PERFORMERS - including Tanya Barfield, Mia Barron, Stephen Belber, Leila Buck, Julia Cho, Kathleen Chalfant, Colman Domingo, Melissa Friedman, Alexandra Gersten-Vassilaros, Rachael Holmes, Teri Lamm, Craig Lucas, Godfrey L. Simmons, Jr., Nilaja Sun, David Strathairn, James Wallert, Sarah Winkler, and David Zellnik -- with an evening of satirical, scandalous, and inspiring short plays, songs, sketches, spoken op-eds, and toasts. Gordon Elliott will be the non-partisan Master of Ceremonies!

This event is a Benefit for Epic Theatre Ensemble's innovative, civic-minded in-school and after-school education programs.

REGULAR TICKETS: $50/$25 - STUDENT TICKETS: $10

Every year Epic Theatre Ensemble stages a multi-partisan election-eve event honoring student alumnae from Epic's innovative, civic-minded education programs voting for the first time the next day. This one-hour benefit weaves together a collection of short plays, spoken op-eds, music, comedy sketches, and toasts that take a satiric, passionate, and most often personal perspective on citizenship, democracy, and the experience of voting. Many extraordinary artists have contributed to previous First-Time Voter Nights including Eve Ensler, Tony Kushner, Warren Leight, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Emily Mann, The Petersons, Tamara Tunie, Chris Durang, Austin Pendleton, Ariel Dorfman, Amy Redford, and many more.

This year we are expanding this event in many directions. For the first time our honorees will be working with Epic's artists to register voters and increase awareness of the election throughout the fall. They will also be contributing writing that will be performed alongside the professional contributions. In addition, we are partnering with John Jay College of Criminal Justice to identify honorees, contributors, and present the culminating election-eve event at their Gerald Lynch Theater.

TO PURCHASE REGULAR & STUDENT TKTS: go to www.TicketCentral.com or call 212-279-4200 - TO PURCHASE VIP* TICKETS: email SarahWinklerEpic@aol.com or call 212-239-1770

*VIP tickets includes a special pre-show reception with the artists and honorees from 6:00-7:15pm, as well as priority seating and recognition in program (for inclusion in the official program VIP tickets must be purchased by October 12, 2008)