Photo Coverage: Inside Opening Night of RIDING THE MIDNIGHT EXPRESS
By: Stephen Sorokoff Feb. 06, 2014
RIDING THE MIDNIGHT EXPRESS With BILLY HAYES, written and performed by Bill Hayes, directed by John Gould Rubin, opened last night at St. Luke's Theatre. FIRST he wrote the best-selling book. THEN came the OSCAR-winning movie. NOW Billy Hayes comes to the New York stage with his powerful one-man show, RIDING THE MIDNIGHT EXPRESS with BILLY HAYES,directed by John Gould Rubin. Check out photos from opening night below!
After captivating audiences in preview performances at the 2013 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Hayes will appear in a limited run at the St. Luke'S THEATRE (308 West 46th Street) in the heart of New York's theatre district, from January 22nd to March 23rd, before heading back to the British Isles for a special engagement at London's "Soho Theater."
Hayes' story became an instant legend with the publication of his best-selling book, MIDNIGHT EXPRESS, in 1976 and the release of the OSCAR-winning movie in 1978. For the first time on the live stage, Hayes recounts the five years he spent in a Turkish prison and his brazen escape. He reveals aspects of his adventures never before told, elaborates on many instances portrayed in the film version, and corrects some of the plot-lines and scenes that were fictionalized for the movie - especially the actual, true story of his harrowing, white-knuckle escape.
Since Billy escaped in 1975, he has spoken about his ordeal on television, in classrooms and lecture halls, even back in Turkey. But he has never spoken about it in a theatrical setting, until now.
Photo Credit: Stephen Sorokoff
St. Luke's Theatre
Billy Hayes & director, John Gould Rubin
Jeffrey Altshuler, Billy Hayes, John Gould Rubin, Barbara Ligeti
EDa Sorokoff, John Gould Rubin, Jeff Schneider
Riding The Midnight Express
Christine De Lilse & Jamie deRoy
Valli Dawn Hart, Stephen Sorokoff, Scott
Valli Dawn Hart & Friends
Billy Hayes & Valli Dawn Hart
Rod Gilbert, Billy Hayes, Errol Rappaport
Jamie deRoy, Billy Hayes, Barbara Ligeti
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