Photo Flash: FringeNYC's THE RUFUS EQUATION, Now Playing Through 8/23

The 2013 New York International Fringe Festival has its first break-out hit with Ted Cubbin's new comedy The Rufus Equation, a world premiere production directed by Tom Ridgely, the Drama Desk-nominated director and co-founder of Waterwell. The Rufus Equation continues at The Connelly Theater (220 East 4th Street, NYC), tonight, August 21 at 2:00 p.m., and Friday, August 23 at 2:00 p.m. Check out a first look at the cast in action below!

Geoffrey Arend leads the cast as Professor Bert Rufus. Arend's film and television credits include Garden State, Supertroopers, (500) Days of Summer, Save the Date, Beach Pillows, Devil, The Ringer, "The Closer" (TNT), "Law & Order" (NBC), "Trust Me" (TNT) and "Body of Proof" (ABC). The cast also features Joy Farmer-Clary, Pierre Epstein, Chris Kipiniak, Dave Quay, and Kristin Villanueva.

What's love got to do with quantum physics? Professor Bert Rufus is awkward with women - especially with the alluring physicist Alys Smith. Bert invents a secret device that will shock the world...and might even get him laid. In The Rufus Equation, Nerd + Math = Sex.

Author Ted Cubbin grew up with a passion for physics, which he studied at Princeton University and went on to practice at NASA and elsewhere. While a graduate student at Princeton, he was the last student of Professor Robert Jahn, who pioneered the scientific pursuit for experimental evidence of a "sixth sense." The Rufus Equation is his first play.

Director Tom Ridgely is a co-founder of the theatre company Waterwell, for which he has directed or co-directed GOODBAR, #9, The|King|Operetta, Marco Millions (based on lies) and The Persians, among others. His work has also been seen at The Public Theater, Ars Nova, 59E59, Symphony Space, The Barrow Street Theater, NYU/Tisch, Theatre Row, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park.

Tickets are now available ($15 in advance, $18 at the door) by visiting www.fringenyc.org or by calling (866) 468-7619. In addition, tickets are available for in-person sales at fringeCENTRAL (1 East 8th Street) from 12:00 - 8:00 p.m. daily. For more information visit www.therufusequation.com.

Photo credit: Jenny Anderson

Geoffrey Arend, Dave Quay, Joy Farmer-Clary, and Kristin Villanueva

Geoffrey Arend

Geoffrey Arend and Dave Quay

Geoffrey Arend, Chris Kipiniak, and Dave Quay

Joy Farmer-Clary and Dave Quay

Geoffrey Arend, Kristin Villanueva, Chris Kipiniak, Pierre Epstein, Dave Quay, and Joy Farmer-Clary