Josh Hecht to Direct Dark Comedy VERANO PLACE at FringeNYC, 8/16-25

Drama Desk Award-winner Josh Hecht (Christine Jorgensen Reveals, former Director of Playwright Development at MCC Theater) is set to direct the premiere of playwright Katie Atcheson's dark comedy VERANO PLACE as a part of FringeNYC with performances August 16-25 at the Kraine Theater (85 E 4th St.).

The cast will feature Broadway actors Bradford Cover (A Thousand Clowns), Helen Coxe (Side Man) and Samuel Stricklen (Superior Donuts), as well as UCB Comedy's Chet Siegel, Will Dagger (Napoleon in Exile, 59E59 Theater), William Sturdivant (the Acting Company) and Jessica Brown (Troublemaker at Berkeley Repertory Theatre).

In VERANO PLACE, 1976 is a tough year for Emily. Since moving to California, her academic parents have embraced an open marriage, her only friend digs drugs and sex, and her potential boyfriend is way too old. A play about finding love, getting lost and growing up in the 'Me Decade', VERANO PLACE features a range of eccentric characters and startling situations that will leave audiences laughing, moved and thoroughly entertained.

Director Josh Hecht is currently on the faculty of Fordham's MFA Playwriting Program and develops between one and two dozen plays a year at such theaters and play development centers as Signature Theatre Company (NYC), The Juilliard School, MCC Theater, NYTW, Playwrights Horizons, Primary Stages, The Kennedy Center, The Public Theater, The New Group, Rattlestick, LAByrinth, New Dramatists, New York Stage and Film, the O'Neill and many others.

The creative team will also feature costume design by Julie Michael, sound design by Elisheba Ittoop, set design by Reid Thompson and lighting design by Shane Moan.

VERANO PLACE was developed in excerpts at the Naked Angels' Tuesdays@9 and Ensemble Studio Theatre's First Brew reading series. It was selected for a Primary Stages ESPA*Drills Staged Reading at 59E59 Theater and EST Memberfest reading, both directed by Josh Hecht.

VERANO PLACE will have five performances as a part of FringeNYC with performances August 16-25 at the Kraine Theater (85 E 4th St.) on SUN. 8/16 at 8:15PM, TUES. 8/18 at 2PM, FRI. 8/21 at 7PM, SUN 8/23 at 12PM and TUES. 8/25 at 5:15PM. Tickets are $18 and can be purchased online at www.FringeNYC.org beginning 7/17.

Photo Credit: Hunter Canning