HONKY to Offer Post-Performance TalkBacks at Urban Stages, Begin. 10/23

After a wildly successful extended run last spring, Urban Stages (France Hill, Founding Artistic Director; Peter Napolitano, Producing Associate) will remount their production of Greg Kalleres' biting comedy HONKY - a NY TimesCritics' Pick! Directed by Luke Harlan, HONKY will begin its performances on October 22 and open on Sunday, October 27 through November 17, 2013 at Urban Stages (259 West 30 Street). Tickets will be $40 ($25 during previews) and will be available at www.Smarttix.com or by calling 212.868.4444.

A black teenager is shot for his "Sky Max" shoes. Sales triple among white teens. Are ghetto-glorifying commercials to blame or the CEO that only sees dollar signs? Either way, a new cure for racism promises to solve everything and advertises, "If you don't think you need it, you're probably a racist!" HONKY is a darkly comedic look at five people, white and black, as they navigate the murky waters of advertising, race, romance and basketball shoes

Throughout the run of HONKY, Urban Stages will offer special post show talk back panels that will discuss race as it applies to theatre theatre, language, and marketing and advertising.

Current panels include:

October 23rd 7:30PM SLAM/KICKS MAGAZINE will host "Wear your HOTTEST Sneakers" event a discussion after the play with NBA KNICKS Star John Wallace: New York State high school player of the year, Syracuse University championship game superstar and KNICKS 1996 first pick in the draft. Also KICKS Magazine's Dr. Lee Gabay and HONKY Playwright Greg Kalleres (Kalleres is also a Ad Man with Widden and Kennedy whose accounts included Nike's Michael Jordan account.) Tickets $30 at smarttix.com

October: 29th Special Urban Stages Patrons Night. The evening includes a cast meet and greet, cocktail reception, HONKY and dinner at SEVEN. Tickets are $125 at Smarttix .com

November 8th: Post-show discussion with Michael Dinwiddie, Associate Professor, New York University Gallatin School teaching dramatic writing, African American Theatre History. He will be speaking on how working in advertising as a staff writer for ABC-TV's "HANGIN' WITH MR. COOPER" has helped him as an educator and a playwright. Greg Kalleres the playwright will join him in discussion.

November 12th, Adcolor's Neal Arthur will offer a post-show discussion ADCOLOR is a magazine dedicated to African American in the advertising industry

November 13th: Elizabeth Alexander - American poet, essayist, playwright and a University of Yale Professor. She will lead a discussion as to how the play relates to language. Greg Kalleres the playwright will join her in the discussion...

HONKY opened on Thursday, March 14, 2013 at Urban Stages and extended its run through April 14, 2013. The press called the play "A piece that will make you laugh and think" The Examiner; "A thought-provoking satire that asks many questions and delivers as many answers. " Harlem World Magazine; "

Honky is a fizzy new comedy of rare perception: witty, sharp and troubling. Kalleres' sense of nonsense is sublime. Kalleres doesn't shy away from uncomfortable observations about race" OffOffOnline; "It certainly is a play that warrants discussion. And really, any discussion that can delve into an issue so deeply sown into the fabric of America is well worth exploring."The Examiner; "Smart and endearing. The play is far from being a cure for racism but it makes the case that the ability to laugh together is going to have to be part of the remedy." Broadway & Me; "Luke Harlan's direction is award-winning. Catch this one now before it makes its way to Broadway and you're priced out of a ticket"Culture Capital

Cast includes: Scott Barrow (Embraceable Me , Broadway's 33 Variations), Philip Callen(Regional: Bill W and Dr Bob, 1776, Bush Is Bad), Dave Droxler (The Man Who Laughs Film: Limitless, Writer's Block),Danielle Faitelson (TV "Pzazz 101," National Tour : If You Give A Pig A Pancake, , I Forgive You, Ronald Reagan), Anthony Gaskins (Film Inside, A.R.T's Paradise Lost), DeLance Minefee (Civil War Christmas Film: Barber Shop II), Reynaldo Piniella (TV: "Law & Order: SVU," "NYC 22". Film: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Broken City), Arie Bianca Thompson (Public's Henry V, Orpheus. Film: Wake Up Gone). Creative team includes: Roman Tatarowicz (Sets),Miriam Nilofa Crowe (Lights), Brandon Wolcott (Sound), Caite Hevner (Projection Design), Sarah Thea Swafford (Costumes).