Karen Ziemba & Gregg Edelman Star in Steven Dietz's SHOOTING STAR at Penguin Rep

Tony Award winner Karen Ziemba and four-time Tony Award nominee Gregg Edelman star in the upcoming New York premiere production of Steven Dietz's SHOOTING STAR, July 9 through August 1, at Penguin Rep Theatre in Stony Point, New York.

Directed by Penguin Rep artistic director Joe Brancato, SHOOTING STAR tells the story of the accidental reunion of Elena and Reed at a snowed-in airport. Twenty five year earlier, they were together in college, full of peace, love, and homemade soup, but then they split up and the decades moved on. She's still the idealistic hippie; he's gone corporate. Stuck for the night, they unearth past secrets and rekindle their passion, reaching for a second chance, if it hasn't slipped away.
Karen Ziemba (Elena) received the Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for her performance in Susan Stroman's CONTACT at Lincoln Center. She is a three-time Tony nominee for STEEL PIER, CURTAINS, and NEVER GONNA DANCE. On Broadway, she has also appeared in CHICAGO, CRAZY FOR YOU and 42ND STREET.

Gregg Edelman (Reed) has starred on Broadway in WONDERFUL TOWN, INTO THE WOODS, 1776, CITY OF ANGELS, PASSION, FALSETTOS, CABARET, LES MISERABLES and CATS. He's been nominated for four Tony Awards, two Drama Desk Awards (one win) and two Outer Critics Awards. Film credits include LITTLE CHILDREN, SPIDERMAN 2 and CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS.

Playwright Steven Dietz is one of America's most widely-produced and published contemporary playwrights. Since 1983, his plays have been seen at over one hundred regional theatres in the United States, as well as Off-Broadway and around the world. His work has been translated into seven languages.

Mr. Dietz is a two-time winner of the Kennedy Center Fund for New American Plays Award, for FICTION (produced Off Broadway by the Roundabout Theatre Company), and STILL LIFE WITH IRIS. He received the PEN USA West Award in Drama for LONELY PLANET; the 2007 Edgar Award for Drama from the Mystery Writer's of America for SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE FINAL ADVENTURE; and the 1995 Yomuiri Shimbun Award (the Japanese "Tony") for his adaptation of Shusaku Endo's novel SILENCE.

Now in his 33rd year as Penguin's founding artistic director, Joe Brancato's credits include the Off Broadway productions of Charles Smith's FREED, currently playing at 59 East 59 Street Theaters; TRYST; COBB (Drama Desk winner); FROM DOOR TO DOOR; ONE SHOT, ONE KILL; TWO AND A HALF JEWS; ESCAPE FROM HAPPINESS (starring Marsha Mason), and HOLD THE WEDDING, produced by Joseph Papp.

The production team for SHOOTING STAR includes designers Ken Larson (sets), Karen Kinsley (costumes), Martin E. Vreeland (lights), and Jack Kennedy (sound); production manager Zachary Spitzer; and stage manager C. Renee Alexander.

Performances of SHOOTING STAR are scheduled Thursdays and Fridays at 8:00 pm, Saturdays (2 shows) at 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm, and Sunday matinees at 2:00 pm at Penguin Rep's intimate, 108-seat theatre located at 7 Crickettown Road in Stony Point (Rockland County), New York.

Tickets are $33 and can be purchased on-line at www.penguinrep.org or by phone at 845-786-2873. A limited number of discount tickets ($16.50) are available for a special weekday matinee performance on Friday, July 9 at 2:00 pm.
To order tickets or get more information, visit Penguin Rep's website at www.penguinrep.org or call 845-786-2873.

Penguin Rep Theatre, Rockland County's first year-round, non-profit professional theatre, was founded in 1977 in a century-old hay barn converted to a theatre, by Mr. Brancato and Fran Newman-McCarthy, Treasurer of the Board of Trustees. The Equity theatre's 2010 season began May 14 with a record-breaking extended run of Tom Dudzick's OVER THE TAVERN. Upcoming are: AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS, adapted by Mark Brown and directed by Thomas Caruso, August 13 through September 5; and the New York premiere of MRS. MANNERLY, a new comedy by Jeffrey Hatcher, directed by Joe Brancato, October 1 through October 24.

AUDIENCE ENHANCEMENT EVENTS

Audience members are invited to enrich their theatre-going experience without any additional charge by participating in any of Penguin Rep Theatre's special events during the run of SHOOTING STAR.

Opening Reception: Join the cast and creative team after the 2:00 pm matinee performance on Sunday, July 11 for cake and coffee.

Post-Show Discussion: Learn more about the play and production and share your thoughts with fellow audience members in a discussion with the cast and director following the show on Friday, July 16.

Pre-Show Tasting: Enjoy a tasting from a local chef or restaurant (TBA) before the 4:00 pm matinee performance on Saturday, July 17.