PHOENIX, Starring Julia Stiles and James Wirt, Begins Performances Off-Broadway

Scott Organ's dark romantic comedy Phoenix, directed by Jennifer DeLia and starring Emmy and Golden Globe Award nominee Julia Stiles and James Wirt, begins performances tonight, July 28, and will play a limited engagement through Saturday, August 23 at the Cherry Lane Theatre (38 Commerce Street).

Stiles, known for 10 Things I Hate About You, the Bourne series with Matt Damon, and David Mamet's Oleanna on Broadway, will be joined by Wirt, who also stars in DeLia's directorial debut feature film Billy Bates, due out in theaters in November. Stiles and Wirt will co-star with Lily Rabe, Michael Pitt, Billy Magnussen and Louisa Krause in Julie Pacino and Jennifer DeLia's upcoming film The First. A film adaptation of Phoenix, under the direction of Amy Redford is currently development.

When Bruce (James Wirt) and Sue (Julia Stiles) meet four weeks after an uncharacteristic one-night-stand, Sue has this to say to him: one, I had a great time with you that night and two, let's never see each other again. Thus begins a 4,000 mile journey well beyond the confines of their carefully structured worlds. Bruce is fueled by an overwhelming but undefined compulsion to join her in Phoenix. Sue is reluctantly charmed by his persistence, but steadfast in her resolve to keep him at bay. Both are forced to consider a whole new world of possibility, though not one free of difficulty and loss. Phoenix is a one-act dark romantic comedy.

PHOENIX premiered at the 34th Humana Festival of New American Plays at Actor's Theatre of Louisville on March 5, 2010, and received its Off-Broadway premiere produced by The Barrow Group Theatre Company on April 10, 2010.