Ripe Theatre, a theater in residence at EXIT Theatre

Ripe Theatre, a theater in residence at EXIT Theatre

ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES/ ABOUT RIPE THEATRE / RIPE IMAGES / CONTACT RIPE THEATRE

MISSION STATEMENT

RIPE Theatre is a collective of performing and visual artists. It is our mission to create original work that increases awareness of our world, acceptance of ourselves and preserve the art of live theatre for future generations.
Rational-
based on, or derived from reasoning.
Irrational-
contrary to reason; senseless; absurd.
Planet-
a large, opaque, nonluminous mass.
Earth-
the large, opaque, nonluminous mass on which we coexist.
Theatre-
dramatic works of art.

RIPE Theatre
Theatre for the mass

RIPE Theatre was founded in February of 2000 by Noah Kelly and Sarah McKereghan because as artists we were hungry. After years of acting in "traditional" productions with the ideas and visions of other people we found ourselves artistically unsatisfied and wanting more. So we returned to the roots of our education which focused on a process driven approach to creating original, self-produced ensemble theatre.
RIPE wants to bring theatre to a new audience, one that doesn't normally see live theatre. By writing and performing new work integrated with visual and communication arts that reflect our society, we hope to speak to all generations, and a broader, more diverse audience.

RIPE is...
Noah Kelly

Sarah McKereghan
Peter Q. Parish

Mark Rachel
Liz Roddy

John Andrew Stillions
Deborah Wade

Past Productions:
Cicada
October 2004

Akin, It's in the Blood
July 2003
Mammoth Under the Bathhmat
January 2003

<52
September 2002
Ambrosia on a Stick
September 2001

Wacky Pie
July 2000

REVIEWS
"RIPE Theater's involving and witty drama (written by cofounder McKereghan) is an inventive, eerily prescient reflection on opposition to a mad world order. Featuring an excellent cast -buoyed by Noah Kelly's playful, always intelligent direction - its almost sci-fi ambience gains cathartic intensity in the recent election's miserable aftermath, further heightening its themes of struggle and renewal."
(R. Avila, SF Bay Guardian, Cicada)
Full review

" 'Akin' is a Pinteresque family mystery in six scenes for two people that retrace, reinterpret and reframe the same incident. Michael Lindsay's low key direction and Julia Norton's inventive a cappella score nicely complement McKereghan and Kelly's subtly clever performances and writing."
(Robert Hurwitt - San Francisco Chronicle, Akin)

"RIPE Theater presents a fresh and cleverly crafted thriller about an eccentric family composed of several sets of twins and the myriad decisions that go into making up a complex and imperceptible fate. Persuasively directed by Michael Lindsay, Kelly and McKereghan's wry and sophisticated realism complements the play's almost metaphysical slant. The play's ideas, as well as Kelly and McKereghan's performances, remain intriguing throughout, ultimately suggesting a notion of destiny that moves beyond a particular bloodline to embrace us all inextricably. This full length departure from the sketch-based routines of their four previous shows represents a fruitful turn in the evolution of an unusually intelligent and able young company."
(Robert Avila - SF Bay Guardian, Akin)

"Wonderfully wry...simply brlliant...RIPE is a force to be reckoned with because of it's unwavering commitment to fresh material, an intelligent eye for the details of modern life and a slightly off beat attitude that gives the material an individuality that shines through..."
(Pat Craig, Contra Costa Times, Mammoth)

"...Audiences will be consistantly amused by the imagination, wit and energy these young troupers display."
( Leslie Kats, San Francisco Examiner, Mammoth)

"Tight dark and abounding with absurdist wit..."
(Veltman, SF Bay Guardian, Mammoth)

"The cast are all versatile performers, with a good sense of comic timing and wonderfully expressive physicality...RIPE Theatre is worth watching."
(Pat Craig, Contra Costa Times, <52)

RIPE's unique style “maintains the immediacy and accessibility of sketch comedy, along with the depth and exploration of a well-written play. These folks are good.”
(Cassidy Brown, Willows Theatre, Ambrosia)