the cell will present the World Premiere of THE BISCUIT CLUB, Marianne Driscoll's canine comedy inspired by The Breakfast Club. Directed by Kira Simring, previews begin tonight, April 4 with opening slated for Thursday, April 9.
Ever wonder what goes on in a kennel when people aren't around? THE BISCUIT CLUB takes audiences behind-the-bars at Bradley's Bed & Biscuit, a boarding house for dogs. When an aging Bulldog, a sassy Beagle, a glamorous Shih Tzu, a grumpy
Pit Bull, a haughty champion Airedale Terrier and a wide-eyed Labrador pup are locked together for the night, a doggone good time is in store for all.
THE BISCUIT CLUB stars Jack O'Connell (a familiar-faced film & TV character actor whose many credits include Knight and Day, Blue Bloods, Doubt and Nurse Jackie),
Stephane Duret (The Fortress of Solitude at The Public),
Bob Jaffe (
Willy Holtzman's The Real McGonagall),
John McLaughlin (Hard Times: An American Musical),
Paul Nugent (The Field at Irish Rep) and
Judy Rosenblatt (
Austin Pendleton's Woman Before A Glass). The production team includes
Gertjan Houben (set and lighting), Zoe Sienna Allen (costumes), Charles Mueller (sound design), Brian Reager (assistant director) and
Mackenzie Meeks (stage manager).
Playwright Marianne Dirscoll is a resident artist at the cell. Her last play, McGoldrick's Thread played to sold out houses at
St. Mark's Theatre 80. McGoldrick's Thread was part of the 1st Irish Theatre Festival and won top honors including Best Production, Best Director (
Kira Simring) and Best Choreography. Marianne has been creating images and stories her entire life, running her own portrait studio, as well as documenting numerous events on film, both in the U.S and abroad.
Kira Simring is the Artistic Director of the cell. A professional director for over 15 years, Kira has worked closely with writers to develop and realize their work. Most recently, she directed the New York Times Critic's Pick Hard Times, An American Musical by
Larry Kirwan. Outside of the cell, Kira's direction has been seen in venues throughout NYC, including The New Theatre Row Theatres,
City Center's VOX at NYU's Skirball Theatre, The Thalia Theatre at
Symphony Space and 80
St. Mark's Theatre. Regional venues include CenterStage in Baltimore, New Village Arts in San Diego, and The Connecticut Grand Opera.
the cell, A Twenty First Century Salon (
Nancy Manocherian, Founding Artistic Director and
Kira Simring, Artistic Director) is dedicated to creating works to mine the mind, pierce the heart, and awaken the soul. the cell is a not-for-profit collective for artists to incubate and present new work.
THE BISCUIT CLUB runs April 4 - 25, Thursday - Saturday at 7pm with Saturday matinees at 3pm and additional performances on April 6 & 7 at 7pm and April 19 at 3pm. the cell is located at 338 W 23rd St, between 8th & 9th Avenues -- accessible from the C & E trains at 23rd Street. Tickets are $18, available at 800-838-3006 or
www.thecelltheatre.org.
