GO GET THE AXE Begins Performances 6/8 at The Theatre at 30th Street

FIG Productions' New York premiere of Go Get the Axe, the new play by James L. Menzies, directed by Richard C. Aven (Smoke, Algorithmism), begins performances Thursday, June 8, 2017 at The Theatre at 30th Street (259 West 30th Street).

The cast of Go Get the Axe features Christopher Halladay (Mr. Robot, Gotham, Law & Order: SVU) as "Jim," Leslie Alexander (The Leftovers, The Boy From Oz, Mamma Mia!) as "Joan," Eric Michael Gillett (The Blacklist, Daredevil, Sweet Smell of Success) as "Archie," Lisa Kitchens (Everything You Touch, Napoli!, Henry IV Part II) as "Maeve," Terrence Montgomery (Algorithmism, Ayn Rand in Wonderland, Mark Twain and the General) as "Strother," Leigh Williams (Disgraced, A Kid Like Jake, Inherit the Wind) as "Jessica," Brittany Lee McDonald (Mr. Robot, Bellevue: A Love Story) as "Margaret," and Michael Propster (Hamlet. A Version, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Perceval).

Opening night for the limited engagement is Thursday, June 8.

Directed by Richard C. Aven, this painfully human and unexpectedly funny play from exciting new voice James L. Menzies is the absurdist story of one family's journey into the depths of madness, heavy drinking, and impending death-and the humor that can be found at rock bottom.

At the center of several interconnected stories are Jim and Jessica Drinkwine, siblings who were torn apart by one death, and just may be reunited by another. The Drinkwines have a familial euphemism for the mental illness that they're all inextricably tied to: they call it "The Shouters," an affliction that takes on many forms and faces and leaves no member unscathed. Some drink to fight it off. Some do worse.

Told without the constraints of a linear narrative, Go Get the Axe weaves back and forth from the past to the present, from the conscious to the subconscious mind, from the living to the dead, and ultimately shows us that self-forgiveness and redemption may be possible in this life.

The creative team for Go Get the Axe includes Andrew Moerdyk and Santiago Orjuela-Laverde (set design), Susanne Houstle (costume design), Stacey Derosier (light design), Drew Nungesser (sound design), Ian Friedman (video design), Stephanie Hollander (production stage manager), and Raquel Loving (assistant stage manager).

Performances will be held June 8 - June 25, 2017 at The Theatre at 30th Street with nightly performances at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday; 2:30 p.m. Sunday matinees; plus additional matinees on Saturday, June 17 and Saturday, June 24.

The Theatre at 30th Street is located at 259 West 30th Street, between 7th and 8th Avenues; to purchase tickets, which will be $18, visit Artful.ly.

For more information, visit www.gettheaxe.com.