Short Plays by Minghella, Weller, Etc. Performed 1/19-2/10

Short plays by Anthony Minghella, Michael Weller, Amy Fox, and Lisa Ebersole will be performed at Urban Stages (259 W. 30th St.) this month.  The show previews Jan. 19, opens Jan. 20, and closes Feb. 10, 2007.

"Estimated Time of Arrival" will be presented by Thirteenth Night Theatre.  "Ever tried on-line dating, met someone in a coffee shop, had marital troubles, or tried to work through the potential turbulence of a long-distance or long term relationship? 'Estimated Time of Arrival' is a riveting 90 minute evening of vignettes about the whimsical and difficult nature of relationships of twenty to thirty-somethings in the modern city these days," press notes state.

"Estimated Time of Arrival" will be directed by Drew DeCorleto (Boys' Life, Never Tell and founder of The Broken Watch Theatre Company).

"This is the first full theatrical production in Manhattan of Anthony Minghella's Hang Up, originally a BBC radio performance about long distance relationships, which won the Prix Italia in 1988. This is the world premiere of Amy Fox's Hatshop, a piece about two strangers who meet in a coffee shop and take the game they play one step too far, and the world premiere of Amy's comedy Double Click, which looks at finding love through JDATE and the internet dating scene. Included as well in the evening, is a revival of Michael Weller's Split: Part One, a drama about the accumulative effects small details in behavior, speech, and outside relationships can have on a long term relationship, as well as Lisa Ebersole's world premiere, quirky comedy Me Thinks, about a ex-couple who run into each other at a reunion where sparks fly."

Minghella's first film as writer/director was Truly, Madly, Deeply. Other credits include The English Patient, The Talented Mr. Ripley, and Cold Mountain. In 2005, he directed Madame Butterfly for English National Opera at the London Coliseum. Weller's best known works are Moonchildren, Loose Ends, and What the Night is For, which had a production in the West End starring Gillian Anderson. His play 50 Words will open on Broadway next season, starring Elizabeth Marvel and Phillip Seymour Hoffman (directed by Austin Pendleton), as will the musical Zhivago, (Des McAnuff to direct,).

Fox adapted her one-act play, Heights, for the screen. The film premiered at Sundance 2005, starring Glenn Close and later was released nationwide. Fox's plays have been produced by The Ensemble Studio Theatre, Blue Heron Theater, Primary Stages and Soho Repertory Company.  Ebersole's previous play Brother was made into an independent feature film that is currently being edited. 

"Estimated Time of Arrival" stars Ethan James Duff, Reese Madigan, Jamie Proctor, and Sarah Megan Thomas.  The recent Princess Grace recipient and Thirteenth Night resident set designer David Evans Morris returns for the show, as does Juliet Chia for lighting design. Costumes are by Jessa-Raye Court, and sound by Michael L. Cooper.

The show runs Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday at 8pm, and Saturday at 5pm and 8pm (no 5pm show January 20). Tickets are $18; visit www.smartTix.com or cal 212-868-4444.