The Civilians� Paris Commune at the Public Theater

The Public Theater announced complete casting and creative team today for The Civilians� Paris Commune, the third play of the inaugural PUBLIC LAB initiative.

Written by Steven Cosson and Michael Friedman and directed by Cosson, The Civilians� Paris Commune is a musical play that uses a versatile company of performers to bring a 19th-century French revolution to life, at the Public's Shiva Theater from 4 - 20 Apr 2008.

In 1871, working class Parisians overthrew the French government, declared Paris autonomous and launched an attempt to radically reinvent society. This revolution is the basis of The Civilians� Paris Commune.

Since its founding in 2001 by Artistic Director Steven Cosson, the award-winning company The Civilians has created several original shows including the Off-Broadway '(I Am) Nobody�s Lunch' and 'Gone Missing.'

�The Civilians are such a dynamic and exciting young company - innovative and inventive with a rigorous intellect and great theatricality,� said Associate Artistic Director Mandy Hackett. �We are thrilled to welcome The Civilians to The Public and to work together in PUBLIC LAB.�

Directed by Steven Cosson, The Civilians� Paris Commune features Kate Buddeke, Aysan Celik, Nina Hellman, Dan Lipton, Jeanine Serralles, Brian Sgambati, Jeremy Shamos, Emily Tepe and Sam Breslin Wright.

The creatve team comprises Alexander Dodge (sets), Sarah Beers (costumes), Thomas Dunn (lighting) and Ken Travis (sound).