Russian Troll Farm: A Workplace Comedy

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Ross Zentner

Scott Haden (left) and Cassandra Bissell in the Forward Theater production "Russian Troll Farm: A Workplace Comedy."

Forward Theater Company will round out the 2021-22 performance season with Russian Troll Farm: A Workplace Comedy. Employees at the Internet Research Agency in Russia busily post disinformation aimed at Americans ahead of an election. The play, by Sarah Gancher, was named a New York Times Critics Pick, and takes a clever, comedic approach to telling the stories of the employees' daily lives. This will be the first live stage production of the play, originally written as a virtual production. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, plus additional 2 p.m. matinees on April 30 and May 7.

 4/21-5/8, Overture Center-Playhouse, at 7:30 pm Wednesdays-Saturdays and 2 pm Sundays, plus 2 pm, 4/30 & 5/7. $49-$34.

press release: For their final production in the 21-22 season, Forward Theater Company will present Russian Troll Farm: A Workplace Comedy by Sarah Gancher. Performances are in the Playhouse at Overture Center for the Arts, April 21 - May 8.

At the infamous (real-life!) Internet Research Agency in St. Petersburg, Russia, professional internet trolls work for days at a time, creating tweets and posts to sow discord and doubt among Americans approaching the polls with high emotion and low information. Russian Troll Farm imagines the daily lives of these workers in an urgent, imaginative, and wicked smart comedy.

REGIONAL PREMIERE & FIRST-EVER LIVE STAGE PRODUCTION

Russian Troll Farm: A Workplace Comedy was originally conceived as a digital production in the fall of 2020 and named a New York Times Critic’s Pick. Forward Theater will be producing the first live stage version of the play, and is collaborating with playwright Sarah Gancher to create this unique premiere.

“I am so thrilled to be bringing this bold, original piece to Madison for its first-ever live production,” says Artistic Director Jen Uphoff Gray. “This play brilliantly examines how misinformation and social media has been weaponized against all of us. To be able to work directly with the playwright of this insightful comedy is a wonderful opportunity for Forward.”

ARTISTIC TEAM

Russian Troll Farm: A Workplace Comedy features Casem AbuLughod, Cassandra Bissell, Sarah Day, Scott Haden, and Andrew Rathgeber

Scenic Designer: Christopher Dunham

Lighting Designer: Noele Stollmack

Costume Designer: Ren LaDassor

Sound Designer/Composer: Joe Cerqua

Props Master: Pam Miles

Stage Manager: Sarah Deming-Henes

Asst. Stage Manager: Abbi Hess

Thursday, April 21-Sunday, May 8, evening performances at 7:30pm, matinees (Sat & Sun) at 2:00pm. All performances are in the Playhouse at Overture Center for the Arts.

Tickets for the production go on sale March 24 at 11am and can be purchased online at forwardtheater.com, or via overture.org. Tickets can be purchased via phone at 608.258.4141

Adults: $34-$52

Artist and student rate: $15

April 21 preview performance ticket prices - General public: $20, Students/Educators: $10

Russian Troll Farm: A Workplace Comedy is generously sponsored by Madison Community Foundation, Sybil & Maurice Better, Stafford Rosenbaum, Wipfli, and The Cap Times.