THE FASTEST WOMAN ALIVE
The Unbelievable Tale of Jacqueline Cochran
June 3 - 20 at Theatre on Two

Praxis Theatre Project will present the New York Premiere of THE FASTEST WOMAN ALIVE by Outer Critics Circle Best Play nominee Karen Sunde. Directed by Joel Froomkin (Rupert Holmes’ Thumbs starring Kathie Lee Gifford at Cape Cod’s Cape Playhouse), this new drama about the first woman pilot to break the sound barrier begins previews June 3rd at Theatre Row’s Theatre on Two. The play premiered earlier this year at New Jersey’s Luna Stage. Opening Night is scheduled for Saturday, June 5th.

THE FASTEST WOMAN ALIVE is based on the amazing and true story of Jackie Cochran (1914 -1980), the little-known aviator who holds more flight records than any other human being in history. This controversial pilot, who included Amelia Earhart and Chuck Yeager in her circle of close friends, holds the distinction of being the first woman to break the sound barrier among nearly 200 flying records. Not merely a pilot, Cochran had a hand in Eisenhower’s election, formed a successful cosmetics company, was involved in astronaut training, and interviewed leaders including Chiang Kai-shek and Mao Tse-tung for Liberty Magazine.

This timely production celebrates both the Centennial of Flight (December 17, 2003) and the 50th Anniversary of Cochran becoming the first woman to break the speed of sound (May 18th, 1953). According to The National Aviation Hall of Fame, "Jackie Cochran’s ability to invent...and reinvent herself was, perhaps, a more compelling quality than her innate piloting skill, which was substantial - or her commanding personality, which was legend. Born into abject poverty and raised by a detached and destitute foster family, Jackie Cochran refused to be defined by her beginnings. Rather, she set out to mold an identity that was both flexible and unforgettable."

Karen Sunde has eight published plays including How His Bride Came to Abraham, Haiti: A Dream, Dark Lady and In A Kingdom by the Sea. She has won the Bob Hope Award, three Villager Awards, France’s Aide de la Creation and a Best Play nomination by the Outer Critics Circle (for Balloon). Her plays have been produced in ten countries and in seven languages at venues including Actors Theater of Louisville, Ireland’s Abbey Theatre, Annenberg Center, Finland’s Lahti City Theatre, The Acting Company and The Working Theatre. Her first screenplay, Deborah: The Adventures of a Soldier, was a finalist at Sundance. Sunde was the former Associate Director at CSC Repertory.

Founded in 2000, Praxis Theatre Project is committed to creating, developing and producing compelling and topical new works. Past productions include The Tragedy of Frankenstein, Patrick Hamilton’s Rope, Over A Barrel, Zastrozzi: The Master of Discipline, and Karen Sunde’s How His Bride Came to Abraham, which Martin Denton of nytheatre.com called "superbly affecting theatre... Praxis has done a superb job of mounting this piece." For more info on the company visit www.praxistheatre.org.

THE FASTEST WOMAN ALIVE runs June 3-20, Wednesday - Saturday at 8pm and June 12, 13, & 20 at 2pm. Theatre on Two is located at 432 West 42nd Street. Tickets are $15, available at smarttix.com or by calling 212-868-4444.