David Greenspan's I'M LOOKING FOR HELEN TWELVETREES Debuts at Abrons Arts Center, Now thru 4/4

Abrons Arts Center continues its 100th anniversary celebration of The Playhouse with the world premiere of five-time OBIE recipient David Greenspan's I'm Looking for Helen Twelvetrees. For over three decades, Greenspan has been omnipresent on New York City stages, from Bushwick to Broadway, and is beloved for his magnetic performances and his richly theatrical writing style. The New York Times has called Greenspan, "a theatrical conjurer of rare gifts," and fellow writer Tony Kushner considers him "all-round the most talented theater artist of [his] generation.''

I'm Looking for Helen Twelvetrees is Greenspan's 25th original work and is directed byhis long-time collaborator, OBIE recipient and Tony nominee Leigh Silverman (Violet, Chinglish, Well). In addition to Greenspan,the play features Brooke Bloom in the title role (You Got Older at Page 73, Marie Antoinette at A.R.T., Somewhat Fun at The Vineyard; Film: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close) and Keith Nobbs (HBO's The Pacific,NBC's The Black Donnellys, Lombardi, Bronx Bombers, The Lion in Winter)

After coming across a photograph of the actress Helen Twelvetrees, a real-life star of early talkies, Greenspan became fascinated by her expression and the few known fragments of her tragic life. He began writing an imaginative rendition of her life story. The play features a young man named Mike who seeks out the actress, once a screen siren, who is now playing Blanche DuBois at a Long Island summer stock theater in 1951. Greenspan's elliptical text interweaves time frames in the young man's life and that of the actress. An elegy to the artists that history forgets, I'm Looking for Helen Twelvetrees finds beauty in the sadness of lives gradually narrowing towards despair and comfort in the recall of moments of transcendent artistry.

Performances of I'm Looking For Helen Twelvetrees will take place today, March 19 - April 4 (see above schedule). Critics are welcome as of Saturday, March 21 at 8:00pm. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased by going to www.abronsartscenter.org or by calling the box office on 212.352.3101.