ANN ARBOR, MI – Theatre NOVA, Ann Arbor’s professional theatre with an exclusive focus on new plays and playwrights, presents the Michigan premiere of “The Totalitarians” by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb.

Politician Penelope Easter is a disaster of a candidate: impulsive and crass, with a closet full of skeletons. When she enlists the help of Francine, a silver-tongued political operative, the two embark on a madcap journey of sex, money, complete misrepresentation of facts, and a total lack of scruples - on their way to political fame. Only time (and a mysterious stranger bent on revolution) will tell if their ends justify their means, or if justice will find them in the end. This raucous dark comedy lampoons “reality politics,” the state of modern discourse, and life in a post-truth world..

Directed by Carla Milarch, “The Totalitarians” features Diane Hill, Connor Forrest Hutchins, Tory Matsos, and Joe Zarrow. The production team includes Forrest Hejkal (scenic design), Daniel C. Walker (lighting design), Haley Cook (costume design), Aliyah Kiesler (sound design), and Alona Shewach (stage manager).

“The Totalitarians” will run September 7 through September 30, 2018, at Theatre NOVA (410 W. Huron, Ann Arbor), a downtown performance space. Performances are Thursday through Saturday at 8:00 p.m., and Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m. Theatre NOVA features free parking for patrons, as well as quick access to the city’s restaurants, bars, bakeries, and coffee shops.

Tickets are $22, and Theatre NOVA continues its commitment to making theatre accessible by offering pay-what-you-can tickets for those who need them. For tickets, visit TheatreNOVA.org, call 734-635-8450 (Tuesdays through Fridays from noon until 3 p.m.), or buy them in person at the box office one hour before show time.

Theatre NOVA is Ann Arbor’s resident professional theatre company. Its mission is to raise awareness of the value and excitement of new plays and playwrights and provide resources for playwrights to develop their craft by importing, exporting, and developing new work.

Peter Sinn Nachtrieb, 6’6”, is a San Francisco-based playwright whose works include "The Making of a Great Moment" (Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Z Space 2017), "A House Tour of the Infamous Porter Family Mansion with Tour Guide Weston Ludlow Londonberry" (Z Space 2016), "The Totalitarians" (NNPN premiere 2014), "boom" (TCG's most produced play 2009-10), "Bob", (2011 Humana Festival for New American Plays at Actors Theatre of Louisville, Barrie and Bernice Stavis Playwright Award), "T.I.C. (Trenchcoat in Common)," "Hunter Gatherers|" (2007 ATCA/Steinberg New Play Award, 2007 Will Glickman Prize), "Colorado", and "Litter: The True Story of the Framingham Dodecutuplets." His work has been seen off-Broadway and across the country including at Ars Nova, Woolly Mammoth, SPF, Seattle Repertory, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Southern Rep, Kitchen Dog, and in the Bay Area at Z Space, A.C.T., Encore Theatre, Killing My Lobster, Marin Theatre Company, Impact Theatre, and the Bay Area Playwrights Festival. Peter holds a degree in Theater and Biology from Brown and an MFA in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University. Peter is an alumnus of New Dramatists and is Playwright in Residence at Z Space in San Francisco. He likes to promote himself online at www.peternachtrieb.com.