Isaac Oliver Brings His Blog to the Stage in HE WHO LAUGHS LIVE

On Friday February 26th and Saturday February 27th, Melanie Hopkins and Rob Shapiro present HE WHO LAUGHS LIVE, an evening of scenes and stories from Isaac Oliver's blog which chronicles his life as a gay playwright in New York, "fighting off causticity daily, clinging to compassion and turns of phrase," not to mention lots and lots of coffee.

Co-developed and directed by David Ruttura, the show will feature the author himself along with Micah Bucey ("The Gay Agenda"), Colin Hanlon ("Rent," "I Love You Because"), JOSH LaCASSE ("Actor's are F*@#ing Stupid"), Melanie Hopkins (Rob Shapiro's "Easily Distracted"), (Roger Lirtsman ("Spalding Gray: Stories Left To Tell"), Carrie McCrossen ("Tartuffe" at The Pearl), MARIA McCONVILLE (TheatreworksUSA's "Charlotte's Web") and IAN McWETHY ("Law & Order: SVU").

HE WHO LAUGHS LIVE is based on the award-winning playwright's blog "He Who Laughs, Or The Complete Idiot's Guide to Intimacy," which features an hysterical and poignant array of New York Moments, Afternoon Swoons, Scenes from Casual Sex, Box Office Scenes and Coffee Conglomerates-Come-to-Life.

Isaac Oliver's plays include "Electra in a One-Piece," "Eddie Goshen is Dead," "Long Dirty Jokes" and "Slim, Dancing Joy." His poetry is published in "The Full Spectrum: A New Generation of Writing about Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, and Other Identities" (Knopf). He is a Graduate of Carver Center for Arts and Technology in Baltimore and Fordham College at Lincoln Center.

David Ruttura's directing credits include "Moustache Guys" by Mike Lew (Second Generation), "The Pink Campaign on Broadway," a benefit for the Susan G. Komen foundation at The American Airlines Theater, "24 Hour Plays: Old Vic/New Voices" (24 Hour Play Co/The Old Vic), "Eddie Goshen is Dead," by Isaac Oliver, "Spring Awakening" and "Dutchman." He is an active member of the ensemble-based company, At Play Productions, where he has directed plays by Mike Lew, Laura Jaqmin and Josh Koenigsburg. As an Associate/Assistant Director, David has worked with Marc Bruni, Doug Hughes, Thomas Kail, Walter Bobbie, Des McAnuff, Philip Wm. McKinley and Eric Schaeffer on and off-Broadway, regionally and internationally.

HE WHO LAUGHS LIVE is produced by Melanie Hopkins and Rob Shapiro. The TAI Group is located at 150 West 30th Street (14th Floor) NYC. Friday February 26th at 9 PM and Saturday February 27 at 9 PM shows are sold out. A performance on Saturday February 27th at 6 PM has been added. Reservations are required; email your request to hewholaughstickets@gmail.com. Tickets are $10.

For Isaac Oliver's blog, visit www.hewholaughs.com.