Hermitage Presents Two New Commissions from Madeleine George and Shariffa Ali

Reading from “Hero” are (l-r): Jason Maina, Shariffa Ali, and Joanna Evans.

 

The Hermitage Artist Retreat released photos from the premiere presentations of newly commissioned works by Madeleine George and Shariffa Ali. George and Ali, the first two recipients of the $35,000 Hermitage Major Theater Award, had readings of their newly commissioned plays in New York at Off-Broadway’s MCC Theater just before Thanksgiving. George presented the first full-length reading of her new play, “The Sore Loser”, to an invitation-only audience. “The Sore Loser” is a Faustian comedy set in a bowling alley. It’s a play about power, domination, and the death of the patriarchy – as told through a small-town bowling tournament. Ali shared an in-process presentation of her newly devised work, “Hero”, for an invitation-only audience. Ali and two of her collaborators, Joanna Evans and Jason Maina, provided an overview and excerpts from this heartwarming and inspiring new play with music, set in a small South African town and inspired by the true story of Shariffa’s longtime friend and collaborator Vuyo Sotashe. Visit the Hermitage online at hermitageartistretreat.org.