Lonny Price to Direct New Warhol/Basquiat Play 'COLLABORATION' Off-Broadway

Staged Dreams has announced the world premiere of COLLABORATION: WARHOL & BASQUIAT, a new American play written by Tony Award nominee Calvin Levels and directed by Tony Award nominee Lonny Price. The play will be presented at HERE's Mainstage Theatre, located in New York's SoHo district. It runs December 2 through 22, 2016.

This dramatic portrait depicts the artistic relationship between two of the twentieth century's greatest artists. It captures an historic art-world moment as the iconic Pop artist Andy Warhol and the Neo-expressionist painter Jean-Michel Basquiat attempt to navigate the perilous terrain of art and fame while collaborating on a joint series of paintings for their New York City gallery exhibition.

Lonny Price, the highly acclaimed, award-winning director credits among others include: The 2016 London revival of SUNSET BOULEVARD, starring Glenn Close; LADY DAY AT EMERSON'S BAR AND GRILL, starring Audra McDonald; 110 IN THE SHADE, starring Audra McDonald; "MASTER HAROLD"... AND THE BOYS, starring Danny Glover; A CLASS ACT, which he wrote and starred in (Tony nomination, Best Book of a Musical); Sally Marr... AND HER ESCORT, starring Joan Rivers, which he also wrote; VISITING Mr. Green, starring Eli Wallach; and BEAUTIFUL GIRLS, starring Zoe Caldwell. Mr. Price has garnered an Emmy Award, Theatre World Award, Obie Award, Drama League Award, Drama-Logue Award, Tony Award nomination and New York Film and Video Festival Best Director of a Drama Award.

Jean-Michel Basquiat is portrayed by Calvin Levels. Mr. Levels starred on Broadway in OPEN ADMISSIONS for which he won the Theatre World Award and was nominated for the Tony Award, the Drama Desk Award, and the Outer Critics Circle Award. He also appeared in David Mamet's three-hander THE SHAWL at Lincoln Center Theatre. Mr. Levels' previous play James Baldwin: DOWN FROM THE MOUNTAINTOP, depicting the esteemed American writer and Human Rights activist James Baldwin has been performed at over sixty venues around the country, all to standing ovations. He has appeared in leading roles in numerous film and teleVision Productions.

Andy Warhol is portrayed by Ira Denmark. Mr. Denmark was most recently appeared as Mr. Mushnik in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at the Sharon Playhouse. New York credits include: THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER, THE TOYMAKER, PETUNIA, BEGGAR'S OPERA and LET'S FACE IT! He has toured nationally in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF and internationally in 42NDSTREET.

European art dealer Rudolfo Happesberger is portrayed by Frank Van Putten. He recently appeared as Schaaf in A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY at The Classic Stage Company. He played Johann Von Kinkel in HBO/Scorsese's VINYL; a Swiss Banker in THE WOLF OF WALL STREET; and again working with Mr. Scorsese, voicing Dieter Albrecht in SILENCE. He has worked on the stage and in film in his native Holland, and also in Sydney, Australia where he played Siemi in David Wiltse's THE GOOD GERMAN.

Performance dates are December 2 thru December 22, 2016, Wednesdays thru Fridays at 8:30PM, Saturdays at 4:00PM and 8:30PM, and Sundays at 4:00PM. Running time is 2 hours, including intermission. For tickets and information, visit here.org, or call (212) 352-3101 or toll free at (866) 811-4111. HERE's Mainstage Theatre is located at 145 Sixth Avenue, New York, NY 10013 (enter on Dominick Street, one block south of Spring Street). This production is a part of SubletSeries@HERE: HERE's curated rental program, which provides artists with subsidized space and equipment, as well as technical support.