Balm in Gilead Starring Anna Chlumsky to Open October 27

Acclaimed Barefoot Theatre Company continue their relationship with great contemporary playwrights (last year they produced the world premiere of Israel Horovits's Sins of the Mother) with the 40th anniversary of Balm In Gilead by Lanford Wilson directed by Eric Nightengale and starring child star Anna Chlumksy. Performances begin at the Sargeant Theater (American Theatre of Actors located at 314 West 54th Street, 4th Floor between 8th and 9th Aves.) October 27th and end November 20th, running Thursdays – Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 3 PM. Tickets are $15; call Smarttix at 212.868.4444 or go to www.smarttix.com. For more info please visit www.barefoottheatrecompany.org.

Taking place on New York's upper Broadway, Balm in Gilead peeks into the lives and conversations of the drifters, junkies, prostitutes and hustlers who patronize an all-night coffee shop. Over the course of "a week or two" we hear, like an orchestral chorus, the wants and wishes pined for by this ragtag crew of hapless hopefuls who remain optimistic despite overwhelming reasons not to be. At the center of it all are two, young, able bodied outcasts who have cause to have hope, but in a sign of the times are the most despondant of them all.

Balm in Gilead is being directed by Eric Nightengale who was the assistant director of the landmark Steppenwolf production in 1980. He is currently Artistic Director for the 78th Street Theatre Lab and has served as Artistic Director for Actors Repertory Theatre in Chicago and his work at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe has resulted in three Fringe First awards, six published scripts, a Best Ensemble award, and a London transfer.

The play stars Anna Chlumsky who was made famous in the films My Girl and My Girl II starring McCauley Culkin. She most recently appeared in the Fringe Festival hit Half Life. The rest of the cast includes Victoria Malvagano (starred in acclaimed documentary Mad Hot Ballroom), Diego Ajuz, Jeremy Brena, Louis Reyes Cardenas, Sabrina C. Cataudella, John Gazzale, Trey Gibbons, Jerzy Gwiazdowski, Elizabeth June, Jeff Keilhotz, David Lamberton, Luke Leonard, Michael LoPorto, Ruben Luque, Victoria Malvagano, Diane Mashburn, Joe B. McCarthy, Chiara Montalto, Roderick Nash (was in the original production of Balm in Gilead), Luca Pierucci, Francisco Solorzano (currently working with playwright Israel Horovitz on a new project including the stage adaptation of Dog Day Afternoon), Jennie West, and Christopher Whalen.