Poetic Theater Productions to Present PARADOX OF THE URBAN CLICHE, Begin. 2/5

Poetic Theater Productions has announced the world premiere production of PARADOX OF THE URBAN CLICHÉ, written by Craig 'muMs' Grant and directed by Reginald L. Douglas, part of POETIC LICENSE 2015: subconscious. PARADOX OF THE URBAN CLICHÉ begins performances on Thursday, February 5 for a limited engagement through Sunday, February 22. Press opening is Wednesday, February 11 at 8 PM. Performances are at the wild project (195 E. 3rd Street, between Avenues A & B). Tickets are $18 and can be purchased from OvationTix on 212.352.3101 or online at www.poetictheater.com.

A hustler desperate to get off the block, Ceez comes face to face with both his dreams and his fears one fateful night, giving him the power to change his life forever. Full of passionate love, hip-hop rhythms, and indicative of recent events, PARADOX OF THE URBAN CLICHÉ examines the strength it takes to withstand the Agents of Authority that trap us in the hood of our mind.

The cast features, Mike Carlsen, W. Tré Davis, Eboni Flowers, and Clinton Lowe.

The design team includes Paul DePoo III (scenic design); Brad Peterson (lighting and video design); Liene Dobraja (costume design); Julian Evans (sound design); and Travis Bell (properties design). The dramaturg is Lauren Whitehead. The production manager is Ori Bensimhon. The stage manager is Sarah Devon Ford.

Craig 'muMs' Grant is an American Playwright, Poet and Actor best known for playing Poet on the HBO hit show OZ. muMs is also a proud member of the Labyrinth Theater Company, where he has workshopped three of his own plays, Paradox of the Urban Cliché, Loveness: I will only love you once and the premiere of A Sucker Emcee. He is also a member of Poetic Theater Productions and is excited to present the World Premiere of Paradox of the Urban Cliché.

Reginald L. Douglas is a director with a passion for all facets of new play development. Reginald has directed extensively throughout New York at venues including the Pershing Square Signature Center, Drama League, Culture Project, Theater Row, Soho Rep, DR2, Abingdon Theater Company, Billie Holiday Theatre, Horse Trade, INTAR, Access Theater, and many others, and regionally at Luna Stage, The Playwrights Center, McCarter Theatre, and the DC Black Theater Festival. He has developed and directed new work by writers including 2014-15 Jerome Fellow Josh Wilder, Obie Award-winner Nikkole Salter, Angelica Chéri, Laura Brienza, Kevin R. Free, Amy Evans, James MacLindon, Natalia Naman, Bil Wright, Jon Spano, Colin Drucker, Susan Kathryn Hefti, and several others. Reginald has assistant directed for several leading players in the field on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regionally, including Emily Mann, Sam Gold, Peter DuBois, Ethan McSweeny, Sam Buntrock, Daniel Beaty, Zach Braff and others, and worked at several notable theaters including Second Stage Theatre, Manhattan Theatre Club, Arena Stage, Shakespeare Theatre Company, and McCarter Theatre. Reginald's work has been hailed by The New York Times, Talkin' Broadway, The Star Ledger, and other leading publications. His production of Mother's Day was selected for the highly-regarded Fringe Encore Series for the festival's best shows, and his production of Master Harold...and the boys was named one of the Top 10 Best Shows of 2014 by The Star Ledger. Reginald is a member of the 2014-2015 Actors Studio's Playwrights and Directors Unit, and was named an inaugural 2050 Directing Fellow at New York Theater Workshop, the inaugural Van Lier Directing Fellow at the Lark Play Development Center, and a finalist for fellowships with the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation, Williamstown Theatre Festival, and Theater Communications Group. www.reginalddouglas.com