Photo Flash: Origin Theatre Celebrates Opening Night of Marco Calvani's BEAUTIFUL DAY WITHOUT YOU

Dan Butler ("Bulldog" on TV's Frasier and last season's "Travesties" on Broadway), Richarda Abrams and Anne Son are featured in the three-character cast of Marco Calvani's new dark comedy "Beautiful Day Without You," produced by Origin Theatre Company that opened Off-Broadway last night at the West End Theatre Performances began Thursday November 1.

This is the Italian-born Calvani's first full-length play written in English. Acclaimed across Europe (especially in France, Italy and Spain), Calvani has collaborated on several occasions with Neil LaBute, who directed the premieres of two of his plays -- "Things of This World" (Spoleto Festival, Fringe Festival Madrid and subsequently at La MaMa Theatre with Estelle Parsons and Larry Pine), and "The Second Time" (Biennale Venice, and also at La MaMa). His last play seen in New York was the one-act "After the Dark," directed by Marta Buchaca at La MaMa in 2017 starring Margaret Colin. He is currently directing his first feature film in Paris. His short film "The View from Up Here" (2017) - a French-American co-production - stars Academy Award winner Melissa Leo and César winner Leïla Bekhti.

"Beautiful Day Without You" is directed by Erwin Maas. Maas directed Origin's NY Times Critics' Pick production of "Poison" by Dutch playwright Lot Vekemans, which was part of the 2016-17 season, as well as last season's highly praised immersive one-man "A Christmas Carol."

In "Beautiful Day Without You" two neighbors in a Chicago suburb housing project are brought together by a deadly encounter involving their dogs. One of the neighbors, Bob, is a cynical middle-aged white man, who owns a large Doberman, while his neighbor -- an out-of-work African-American nurse -- owns a much smaller dog whom she claims was attacked and killed by the Doberman. An oddly co-dependent relationship develops as the nurse, Janet, pursues legal action. Investigating the dog attack is Rachel, an animal control officer of Asian descent who finds plenty of clues but very few answers.

The production designers are Guy Delancey (sets, lights and costumes), and Fan Zhang (sound). Miriam Hyfler is the production stage manager.

Origin Theatre Company (George C. Heslin artistic director) is the city's only theatre company devoted to presenting the American premieres of new works by Europe's brightest contemporary playwrights. Since its founding in 2002 Origin has introduced works by over 200 playwrights to US audiences, from such countries as Sweden, Romania, Macedonia, Norway, The Netherlands, Ireland and the United Kingdom. Origin also produces the annual Origin's 1st Irish Festival, the city's only all-Irish theatre festival, the 11th edition of which takes place this January.

"Beautiful Day Without You" plays a limited, four-week Off-Broadway engagement at The West End Theatre, 263 West 86th Street, from Thursday November 1 at 8pm to Sunday November 25 at 3pm. The opening was Wednesday November 7 at 8pm. Performances (21 in total) are Tues through Sat at 8pm, and Sun at 3pm with no performances on Wed Nov 21 and Thurs Nov 22, and an added performance on Saturday Nov 24 at 3pm. For tickets, which range from $35 to $65, call 866-811-4111 or visit www.origintheatre.org