BOARDWALK EMPIRE's Michael Countryman to Lead THE REPORT at NYC Fringe

Barry Goralnick, Sarahbeth Grossman, Craig Zehms in association with Cutting Hedge Productions will present a haunting new world premiere drama, THE REPORT, August 15 - 28 in the New York International Fringe Festival. Based on the novel by Jessica Francis Kane, THE REPORT was adapted by Martin Casella, whose THE IRISH CURSE earned the Outstanding Playwriting Award in the 2005 FringeNYC and went on to a highly acclaimed Off-Broadway run. The show's director is Alan Muraoka whose credits include FALSETTOLAND, KARAOKE STORIES and "Sesame Street."

THE REPORT examines the true, unknown story of the British government's cover-up of the largest civilian tragedy of World War II. On March 3, 1943, 173 people died in London's Bethnal Green tube station, which served as a bomb shelter during air raids. But not a single bomb was dropped that fateful night. The cause of this disaster was kept secret for almost thirty years, until a young BBC journalist making a documentary began to uncover what actually took place. As the truth is revealed, we discover how trauma, fear, and the paranoia of war impact our very humanity, and how the specter of a single public calamity resonates throughout multiple generations.

THE REPORT features Michael Countryman (A FEW GOOD MEN, LAUGHTER ON THE 23rd FLOOR, THE COMMON PURSUIT, "Boardwalk Empire," "The Sopranos," YOU CAN COUNT ON ME) along with a company of British, Welsh, Canadian and American actors including Philippa Dawson, Denny Desmarias, Clemmie Evans, Natalie Frost, Jenny Green, Louis Lavoie, James Physick, Sophie Sorensen, Jonathan Stephens, Zoë Watkins, David Wells and Stuart Williams.

Martin Casella's recent theater credits, in addition to the Off-Broadway and worldwide productions of THE IRISH CURSE, include the award-winning DIRECTIONS FOR RESTORING THE APPARENTLY DEAD and SCITUATE. He is the screenwriter of TOM'S DAD starring Will Ferrell and directed by Lasse Hallstrom, and THE LAND OF SOMETIMES, an animated British feature film.

Barry Goralnick's producing credits include EVE-OLUTION and the FringeNYC production of THE IRISH CURSE. Sarahbeth Grossman's producing credits include Broadway's ANN and STICK FLY as well as the FringeNYC and Off-Broadway productions of THE IRISH CURSE. She received a Tony nomination as one of the producers of AN AMERICAN IN PARIS. Craig Zehms produced the FringeNYC and Off-Broadway productions of THE IRISH CURSE.

Scenic design for THE REPORT is by Lauren Helpern, with costume design by Brian Hemesath, lighting design by Michael O'Connor, sound design by Chris Cassano, specialty movement by Darren Lee and incidental music by Paul Rudolph.

THE REPORT is an Equity approved Showcase. This program has been made possible in part through the sponsorship of The Field.

The performance schedule is Saturday August 15 at 3:15 pm, Tuesday August 18 at 9:45 pm, Monday August 24 at 4:30 pm, Thursday August 27 at 4:15 pm and Friday August 28 at 9:00 pm at Venue 13: Lynn Redgrave Theater@Culture Project located at 45 Bleecker Street. Tickets will go on sale July 17th.

For Information/Tickets visit www.FringeNYC.org. For more information about THE REPORT, please visit: www.thereporttheplay.com.

Photo by Walter McBride