Part of the annual Writers Block Festival of Staged Readings and Performances to Benefit the Actors Fund

Howl! Happening is pleased to present When Lithuania Ruled the World—a play cycle in four parts by Kestutis Nakas. Featuring a cast of East Village performance veterans including John Kelly and Edgar Oliver, this is the first time the play cycle has been presented in its entirety. The event marks the centennial year of independence for modern Lithuania. When Lithuania Ruled the World traces the rise of the medieval Lithuanian Empire, invoking the myths, legends, and worldview of Europe’s last pagans. By turns tragic, comic, ridiculous, romantic, and grotesque, the play tells story of a dynasty that forged a tolerant, polyglot, multicultural empire while resisting conquest and forced Christianization by crusading Teutonic knights.

Written in Nakas’ trademark “iambic funtameter” style, this sprawling work was first presented in New York’s East Village at the Pyramid Club, La MaMa, and Anthology Film Archives in the 80s and early 90s.

Directors

Parts One & Four: Kestutis Nakas

Part 2: Brian Butterick (aka Hattie Hathaway)

Part 3: co-directed by Gary Ray

 

Part One: Thursday, June 14, 2018 / 7 PM / $10
For tickets to Part I

Part Two: Friday, June 15, 2018 / 7 PM / $10
For tickets to Part II

Part Three: Sunday, June 17, 2018 / 2 PM / $10
For tickets to Part III

Part Four: Sunday, June 17, 2018 / 6 PM / $10
For tickets to Part IV

All of the proceeds from ticket sales benefit Howl! HELP and the Actors Fund.

 About WRITERS BLOCK 2018

Howl! Happening: An Arturo Vega Project is pleased to present the annual Writers Block 2018 Festival. Created to showcase the vision of contemporary writers, performers, and artists—many of whom got their start in the nightclubs, seminal performance spaces, and theaters associated with the East Village and Lower East Side—the festival showcases some of the most important playwrights and performers in theater today. New works in progress are presented at this intimate, ultimate downtown theatrical event. Writers Block 2018 runs throughout the year with a week of short plays and one-acts in the fall and various blocks of full-length plays over the year.

The festival is a benefit for the Howl! Emergency Life Project (Howl! HELP), which provides emergency financial assistance and social service support to artists who have made or continue to make their careers in New York’s East Village and Lower East Side arts communities. All of the proceeds from ticket sales benefit the Actors Fund.

“Howl! HELP is an integral part of Howl Arts’ vision to provide a safe haven for artists from our neighborhood,” says Jane Friedman, founder of Howl! Happening. “Writers Block is both a creative outlet and a benefit to insure the health and well-being of our community.” Howl Happening also hosts free, monthly health care and housing workshops presented by the Actors Fund. For information and updated schedule of events: howlarts.org.