LURED Will Journey To Rome After November Run At Theater For The New City

LURED, a timely new play about of gay persecution in Russia, written by Frank J. Avella, will have a world premiere 3-week run at Theater for the New City (Crystal Field, Artistic Director) November 8-25, 2018. Following its New York run, the play will head to Europe where it was accepted into the Onstage! American Theater Festival in Rome, Italy, with performances there on January 25th& 26th2019. LUREDis co-directed by Mr. Avella and Carlotta Brentan. www.LuredThePlay.com

The hate rhetoric being spewedin our own country todayfeels awfully similar to the propaganda coming out of Russia in the last few years. As anyone who has studied history knows, this vitriol often leads to the scapegoating of certain groups of people.

LURED focuses on one particular Russian hate group's attack on a young gay man and the repercussions that follow, when his loved ones decide to take action. LURED wonders if hate is inherent or taught and whether revenge is ever the answer.

The production had its first NYC performances at the TNC Dream Up Festival in 2016. The following year, the play was chosen to take part in the 36thAnnual William Inge Theater Festival (PlayLabs). LUREDwas a semi-finalist for the 2018 O'Neill National Playwrights Conference and has received a 2018 grant from the Arch and Bruce Brown Foundation. LUREDwas created with the support of a Bogliasco Foundation Fellowship.

The cast will feature Ms. Brentan, Brendan Daugherty, John DiMino, Cali Gilman, Kalen J. Hall, Marc Lombardo & David Joseph Volino. The play features Set Design by Steven Medina, Lighting Design by David Shocket, Costume Design by Victoria Ratermanis and Sound Design by Mike Ekelburg. The Stage Manager is Emily Rose White. Fight Choreographer, Randall Rodriguez. Dialect Coach, Dayle Towarnicky.

The LURED performance schedule is as follows: Thurs., Nov. 8th - Sun., Nov. 25th, Thurs., Fri., Sat. at 8pm and Sun. at 3pm. With added performances on Sat., Nov. 10th at 3pm and Mon., November 19th at 8pm.

Tickets are $18 for all performances and are available online at https://www.smarttix.com/Event/lur5E6, by calling SmartTix at 212-868-4444 or in person at the theater prior to each performance.