Award-winning theatre collective Almost A Bird presents Tony Kushner's masterpiece Angels in America Part I: Millennium Approaches as part of the 2007 graduation season of Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School. Award-winning theatre collective Almost A Bird presents Tony Kushner's masterpiece Angels in America Part I: Millennium Approaches as part of the 2007 graduation season of Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School.Angels in America (winner of 1993 Pulitzer Prize for best drama and Tony Award for best play) will be staged at Downstage Theatre.

For the first time in years the graduates of the national drama school showcase their final performance outside their own building and in the industry environment.

"Angels in America will be an investment in a new generation of theatre makers and an example of how the industry can work together with Toi Whakaari," says Catherine Downes. "We are looking forward to being involved with this exciting, relevant new work."

The epic play Angels in America was performed in Wellington for the last time at Circa Theatre in 1994. This story about a struggling community is still as provoking, funny and humane for today's audiences as it was back then.

Says director Willem Wassenaar: "There is no other play than Angels in America that reflects so deeply the huge identity crisis that we as the world, a society and as individuals are experiencing at this very moment."

Set in New York in the conservative mid-1980s, Angels in America is a rollercoaster collision course for a former drag queen diagnosed with AIDS, his armchair philosopher lover, a Valium addicted housewife, her gay Mormon husband and a heavenly host of Angels.

When even God has abandoned his responsibilities and the Angels are calling out for mortal guidance, the characters are forced to make their own decisions on freedom, sexuality, politics and religion in a universe that is about to change.

When: 29 September - 6 October 2007
Where: Downstage Theatre, Wellington
Tickets: $39-$20 and $20 Preview Fri 28 Sep
Bookings: 04 801 6946 or www.downstage.co.nz

5/9/07