Photo Flash: FringeNYC's DEATH AND MCMOOTIE, Opening Tonight

P.I. Theatrical is proud to present the world debut of Death and McCootie as part of the 17th annual New York International Fringe Festival, which will run at the Connelly Theatre (220 East 4th Street), on the following dates: Friday, August 9th @ 5PM; Sunday, August 11th @ 12PM; Friday, August 16th @ 7PM; Wednesday, August 21st @ 9:45PM; Saturday, August 24th @ 5:30PM. Check out a first look below!

For more information and tickets, visit www.deathandmccootie.com or http://www.fringenyc.org/index.php/shows/buying-tickets.

Death and McCootie by Clayton Smith with Percy Rodriguez, is a film noir-style farce that recounts Death's frenzied attempt to collect the soul of Edgar P. McCootie, a hapless private investigator in 1940s Chicago. Chaos ensues when McCootie hits on Death's weakness for a long-shot gamble and switches places with the Grim Reaper in a bet to save his soul.

"People think being Death is all about swooping in and claiming souls," said the Grim Reaper, noted cloak enthusiast and harbinger of death. "But there's a lot more to it than that. Sometimes you get caught up in peoples' stupid mortal problems. That's what this play is all about."

Smith and Rodriguez were advised on the finer points of this true story by Death himself, though, as Smith admits, "We only half listened to what he had to say."

Produced by P.I. Theatrical and directed by Michelle Bossy (Associate Artistic Director at Primary Stages) the play will star Johnny Pruitt as McCootie and Percy Rodriguez as Death. The cast also includes: Hollis Scarborough, Kathy Searle, Heather Corrigan, Jose Joaquin Perez, and Matt Timme.

The creative team includes scenic designer Jeff Guebert, lighting designer Joe Chapman, costume designer Jennifer Fisher, sound designer Dave Rife, and composer Aaron DiPiazza.

The New York International Fringe Festival (FringeNYC) is the largest multi-arts festival in North America, with more than 200 companies from all over the world performing for 16 days in more than 20 venues. FringeNYC will celebrate its 17th Anniversary August 9th - 25th, 2013 with 1200 performances.

Photos by Larry Hamilton