92Y to Host One-Night-Only Performance of THE ABSOLUTE BRIGHTNESS OF LEONARD PELKEY

In honor of NYC Pride 2016, 92Y presents a one-night-only performance of The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey, the award-winning play written and performed by James Lecesne, directed by Tony Speciale, with original music by Spring Awakening's Tony Award-winning composer Duncan Sheik. The play has scenic design by Jo Winiarski, lighting design by Matt Richards, sound design by Christian Frederickson, projection design by Aaron Rhyne, original animation & photography by Matthew Sandager, and costumes by Paul Marlow.

"I'm so thrilled that the 92nd Street Y is giving New Yorkers another opportunity to see my solo show, The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey, " comments Lecesne. "It's been a thrilling year for me doing the show Off Broadway to such acclaim, winning awards and taking the show on the road. But it's particularly gratifying to be performing this one-night-only event at the Y because of their long history of supporting writers and their work. I'm honored to be a part of a tradition that is so very NYC. And this month the novel on which the show is based will be coming out in paperback, giving us even more reason to celebrate."

Absolute Brightness is about the disappearance of Leonard Pelkey, a 14-year-old boy who dared to be different, and the small New Jersey town that will never be the same without him. The play - produced Off-Broadway by Darren Bagert and Daryl Roth - is based on Lecesne's acclaimed YA novel of the same name, being reissued in paperback edition on May 31 (Feiwell & Friends) and available for purchase at 92Y.

James Lecesne wrote the screenplay for the short film Trevor, which won an Academy Award and inspired the founding of The Trevor Project, the only nationwide 24-hour suicide prevention and crisis intervention lifeline for LGBT and questioning youth. Broadway: The Best Man. Off-Broadway: Word of Mouth, presented by Mike Nichols and Elaine May (Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle Award); The Boys in the Band; Motherhood Out Loud; One Man Band; and Cloud 9. Television: Armistead Maupin's Further Tales of the City (Emmy nomination), Will & Grace and the ITVS series Vicious starring Ian McKellen and Derek Jacobi. James has written three novels for young adults, including Absolute Brightness, and he was executive producer of the documentary film After the Storm, which follows the lives of 12 young people living in post-Katrina New Orleans. He would like to thank Dixon Place, Naked Angels, The Afterglow Festival and 20 Summers for helping to bring Leonard Pelkey to life.

Tony Speciale (Director) is the founder of Plastic Theatre - conceiving, co-authoring and directing the world premiere of The Secret Court (formerly Unnatural Acts; Drama Desk nominee, GLAAD Media Award nominee). NYC: The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey (The Dixon Place); A Midsummer Night's Dream featuring Bebe Neuwirth, Christina Ricci and Taylor Mac (Classic Stage Company); Handbook for an American Revolutionary (The Gym at Judson); and Remembering Mr. Maugham (Clurman Theatre). Regional: Barry Manilow's Harmony (Allegiance Theatre/Ahmanson Theatre) and Romeo and Juliet (Actors Theatre of Louisville). Tony served four seasons as Associate Artistic Director at Classic Stage Company, studied musical theatre at The Boston Conservatory and holds an M.F.A. in Directing from Columbia University. He is also the proud recipient of a Princess Grace Theatre Honorarium and a Suzi Bass Award.

Discounted Tickets for 35 and Under - www.92Y.org/LexList