Shepard's Tooth of Crime Bites Into LaMaMa, Oct. 3

La MaMa ETC's famed 1983 rock 'n' roll production of Sam Shepard's play with music, The Tooth of Crime, will return to La MaMa ETC Annex (66 East 4th Street) in celebration of the theater's 45th anniversary.  Previews will begin October 3, prior to an official press opening of October 5.  The play will run through October 22.
 
The production reunites director George Ferencz with original cast members Ray Wise and Raul Aranas.  Wise -- who was already veteran on Broadway when he won his Obie for the play 23 years ago -- returns to the role of Hoss.  Wise has been seen as a regular on Fox's "24" and in the film Good Night, and Good Luck. He can be seen this October in the film The Flock, co-starring Richard Gere.
 
Sam Shepard's The Tooth of Crime, "which had its New York debut in 1972 at the Performing Garage, was innovatively re-staged as a rock 'n' roll concert by director George Ferencz for La MaMa in 1983. The play pits two men -- one a veteran with an established career and numerous insecurities; the other an ambitious newcomer with few limitations -- against each other in a rock 'n' roll duel," according to press notes on the show.
 
In addition to reuniting original cast members Ray Wise and Raul Aranas, the revival will bring together many of the 1983 production's creative team, including set designer Bill Stabile, Emmy Award-winning costume designer Sally Lesser (ABC's "One Life to Live"), and musical director Bob Jewett. Lighting design will be by Jeff Tapper. Joining the cast will be Arthur Adair, Richard Allen, Gideon Charles Davis, Nick Denny, Cary Gant and Jenne Vath.
 
"When looking for a show to mark LaMaMa's 45th anniversary, founder and artistic director Ellen Stewart selected The Tooth of Crime -- not only because it remains one of the theater's most acclaimed works, but also because its staging in 1983 sits in the half-way point of the company's remarkable 45-year run to date (1961-2006). Insofar as La MaMa ETC was home to many of Shepard's early plays, Ms. Stewart convinced the author to grant La MaMa the rights to a one-last-time production using his original script: currently rights are only available to a revised edition of the play -- recently reworked by Mr. Shepard and published as The Tooth of Crime (Second Dance)."

Shepard's other plays include Buried Child, Fool for Love, True West and Curse of the Starving Class.  Of his more than 45 plays, 11 have won Obie Awards.  He is also a noted actor.
 
The play runs: Tuesdays-Sundays at 7:30pm, with matinees Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30pm. Tickets are $40. For reservations, call 212-475-7710 or online at www.lamama.org.