Crothers' '20s Hit Expressing Willie Begins NY Run April 6

The theatre company Woman Seeking... has announced their their 10th Anniversary production, Expressing Willie, directed by Christine Mosere. Expressing Willie, the company's 16th production, will play a limited engagement – ten performances only - at West End Theatre (263 W. 86th Street). Performances begin Friday, April 6 and continue until Saturday, April 22. Opening Night is Friday, April 6 at (7:00 pm). 
 
"Expressing Willie by Rachel Crothers, which will be revived for the first time in 83 years, is a clever comedy about a man, who through the urging of his mother finds himself obscenely wealthy in Long Island.  With newfound money and an increased ego, Willie Smith finds himself in an unfamiliar plane, involved with free thinkers and all that accompanies sordid wealth – until his former unsophisticated girlfriend arrives and pits Midwestern values against the idle rich.  By the time Willie realizes he has been a self-centered fool, it may be too late…. Before The Great Gatsby (some even say it inspired F. Scott Fitzgerald), Rachel Crothers wrote about this obscenely wealthy group of Long Islanders," state press notes.

The production will feature Wynne Anders, Rhonda Ayers, Michael Frederic, Dan Jacoby, Simone Lazer, Ann Parker, Akiva Penaloza, and Maria Silverman. 

"The play takes place inside a ridiculously magnificent Italian Mansion with all the 'down-home warmth of the Metropolitan Museum.'   John Corbin of the NY times wrote in April of 1924, 'A very wonderful thing happened last night in the theatre' and went on to praise every aspect of Expressing Willie – highlighting its satiric comedy!." An audience favorite, the production played for 281 performances.

The production features set design by Brandon Giles, assistant direction by Akiva Penaloza, and costume design by Jessa-Raye Court. 

Woman Seeking... "is a theater group whose goal is to provide an arena for women, free from stereotypes, to practice and hone their craft in quality productions that are entertaining and fun for the actors and audience alike.  Woman Seeking... a theatre company strives to create more opportunities for women to work and thrive in the theater."  
  
Tickets are $18 and are now available online at www.smarttix.com/show.aspx?showcode=LIT9 or by calling Smarttix at 212-868-4444.