Astra, the Manga Musical

Astra, the Manga Musical
Presenter: Washington Women in Theatre
Dates/Times: July 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14 at 8pm, and July 14 at 2pm
Location: The Warehouse Theatre
1021 7th Street NW
Washington, DC
(near Gallery Place Metro)
Tickets: $22.00 (Group Prices Available)
Tickets available at the door, or call 703-237-0711
www.washingtonwit.org

Earth women face danger thanks to the evil cyberspace whiz Dr. Hugo Light who plans to Ozone their brains and turn them into a tribe of futuristic Barbie Dolls! In this comic book rock opera, Astronaut Trueshine flies to Eros to recruit the intergalactic Princess Astra to vanquish the villain and save womankind! Jerry Robinson of the comic book Batman fame, and creator of characters such as the Joker, has penned an amazing new musical with co-author Sidra Rausch, Co-Artistic Director of Washington Women in Theatre.

Washington Women in Theatre celebrates our 5th Anniversary with a summer festival of original new plays! Join us for a new manga musical Astra, written by Jerry Robinson of Batman comic books fame, and Sidra Rausch, and directed by Karen Berman. Astra will be running at the Warehouse Theatre from July 7-14 at 8 p.m. with one matinee performance on July 14th at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 and can be purchased in advance or at the door.

Jerry Robinson is co-author of the Astra comic. Mr. Robinson is a renowned comic book artist who contributed greatly to the American “Golden Age of Comic Books,” which lasted from the 1930s until the 1950s. He is well-known for his work on the Batman comic and the creation of the character of the Joker. He has worked for Daredevil Comics, National/DC, the Herald Tribune Syndicate, as well as numerous publishers. In 2004, he was inducted into the Comic Book Hall of Fame. Mr. Robinson is currently serving as a consultant for the Batman movie, The Dark Knight, scheduled for release in 2008.

Sidra Rausch is co-author of both the manga musical of Astra as well as the comic book series produced by Cartoonists and Writers Syndicate. She serves as co-Artistic Director of Washington Women in Theatre and is a founding member of The Women's Committee of The Dramatist Guild. Her plays and musicals have been produced in N.Y., L.A., The Kennedy Center and The National Museum for Women in the Arts. She was the recipient of the H.D. Lewis Award for How I Became a Bennington Girl in 2003.