PIECES Begins 9/7 as Part of Fringe NYC Encore Series

At the close of the 16^th New York International Fringe Festival (8/26) Revolve Productions presentation of "PIECES" by Chris Phillips won an "EXCELLENCE IN PLAYWRITING" Award.  The acclaimed play was named an early selection for the FringeNYC Encore Series.  It was one of the four shows that were selected for the early announcement during the Festival, by a group of seven theatre producers led by Darren Lee Cole. Brian Zimmer directs the thought provoking drama.  The Encore performances begin this Friday, September 7 at 9:30pm at the historic SoHo Playhouse at 15 Vandam Street (bet 6^th Ave & Varick), NYC.  The fantastic cast will again include: Paolo Andino, Joe Briggs, Jonathan Gibson, Nina Millin and Chris Salvatore. The sound design is by James Ledesma and the lighting by Samantha Szigeti.  The special Encore performances will continue with shows on SUN 9/9 at 8:00pm; WED 9/12 at 8:00pm; THURS 9/13 at 7:00pm; SUN 9/16 at 8:00pm and MON 9/17 at 8:00pm. The provocative drama from Los Angeles received standing ovations, wonderful reviews and a SRO turn away crowd for it closing show during the regular Fringe engagement last month.   www.piecestheplay.com

 

When an openly gay Hollywood power player is brutally murdered, his body parts distributed around the city of Beverly Hills, Los Angeles Public Defender Rory Dennis is assigned the defense of Shane Holloway, the damaged young man accused of the crime.  While unlocking Shane's past, Rory is forced to confront his own scorching ambivalence about his place in a community to which he's lost almost all connection.  Piecesexamines a culture fighting against fragmentation even as it moves toward unprecedented social and political visibility, and the personal cost of divisiveness within a people still shaping its identity.   (1 hr 50 mins including intermission).

 

Chris Phillips (Playwright) was raised in Austin, Texas, and while attending UT Austin, began writing and performing his own work in scholastic competition.  Once in Los Angeles, he worked as a contributing film reviewer for MOVIELINE and OUT magazines, which led to his editorial work at FRONTIERS (2001-05).  A musical he co-wrote, Dreams, was selected as one of six new works in the 2010 Disney/ASCAP workshop directed by Stephen Schwartz.  Chris directed a workshop production of his first play, Revolver, as part of the CT Tuesdays new works program at Celebration Theatre. Revolver received a GLAAD Media Award nomination for Outstanding Los Angeles Theatre.  Chris directed a short film adapted from one of the vignettes featured in Revolver, ""the things i cannot change,"" which screened at the Austin Gay & Lesbian Film Festival in 2011.  Returning to CT Tuesdays, he directed the workshop of his second play, Elysian Fields, which was then chosen for presentation at last years' New York International Fringe Festival, where the play enjoyed a sold-out run and received an Individual Performance award for one of its cast members. Chris was chosen as an award recipient by the Robert Chesley Foundation, which supports the work of LGBT playwrights. Chris is proud to report that Revolver will receive its premiere full production as part of Celebration Theatre's 30th anniversary season in 2013.

 

Brian Zimmer (Director) graduated with a B.A. in Theatre from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota.  Following graduation, Brian worked as an actor for local Minnesota theatres such as Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, Park Square, and Minnesota Opera.  After years of performing, Brian turned his focus to choreography and directing, working with several high schools throughout Minnesota.  He then relocated to California, directing productions for the San Diego Junior Theatre.  After a six-year break from the theatre world, Brian returned to his true love, and in 2011 had the privilege of Assistant Directing two productions with Damaso Rodriguez at A Noise Within theatre in Pasadena -- Tennessee Williams' Eccentricities of a Nightingale and Eugene O'Neill's Desire Under the Elms -- reigniting his passion for the stage. 

Tickets are $18, available at (212) 691-1555 or www.SohoPlayhouse.com.