The Project Rushmore Theatre Co. Presents WORLD OF SINATRAS and EXQUISITE POTENTIAL in Rep

The Project Rushmore Theatre Company (Adrienne Doucette, Artistic Director) presents the New York premieres of Sean O'Connor's WORLD OF SINATRAS and Stephen Kaplan's EXQUISITE POTENTIAL, directed by Sydnie Grosberg Ronga, performed in repertory at The Arclight Theatre (152 West 71st Street) from Wednesday, July 16th through Sunday, August 3rd, 2014. WORLD OF SINATRAS and EXQUISITE POTENTIAL are humorous and poignant new plays about the trials and tribulations of family. The Press Opening for WORLD OF SINATRAS is Wednesday, July 16th at 7:30pm, and the Press Opening for EXQUISITE POTENTIAL is Friday, July 18th at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $18.00 and can be arranged by calling 212-927-6403 or online at www.projectrushmorenyc.org.

WORLD OF SINATRAS takes place in suburban New Jersey during the 1960s. Vietnam, civil rights, the assassinations, and sex, drugs, and rock n' roll burn up the American streets, mirroring the turmoil inside the Murdoch home. Once a star athlete and student, Sam, at 15, is engulfed by alcohol, drugs, vandalism, and his rage towards his father, Jack, a brilliant, charismatic, Sinatra-obsessed NYC psychiatrist who can't escape the alcohol and rage of his working class past.

WORLD OF SINATRAS is written by award-winning playwright Sean O'Connor, who has been produced extensively in New York, in Dublin, and in regional theatre. His works include There is an Angel in Las Vegas (Best New Dramatist Prize with Washington, DC's Source Theatre), Who Collects the Pain (Emerging Playwright Award with NYC's Playwrights Preview Productions, now Urban Stages), Kidnapped (Best New Play with NYC's Workshop Theatre), New Truck for Paulie (Best Play Award with the Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre), The Knitting Club and the film script Imitate the Sun (First Prize in Hollywood's American Accolades Competition). Three of his plays have recently been translated into French by the Baz'Arts Theatre and are scheduled for production in France next year. Sean has written films for USA Network and Nasser Entertainment, and he's also acted extensively in theatre, TV and independent film.

The cast of WORLD OF SINATRAS features Justin Cimino (Rooster), Danielle Delgado (Marie Murdoch), Sarah Elmaleh (Gloria), Dennis Ostermaier (Jack Murdoch), and Jeff Rubino (Sam Murdoch).

In EXQUISITE POTENTIAL, all parents think their children are great. Alan Zuckerman just happens to think his 3-year-old son, David, is the Messiah. Literally, as Alan and his wife, Laura, visited their rabbi to verify David's possible divine nature. Thirty years later, David has grown up and the answer to a father's question is revealed. EXQUISITE POTENTIAL is a funny and probing look at the bond between parent and child.

EXQUISITE POTENTIAL is written by award-winning author Stephen Kaplan, who wrote his first play, And Jack Came Tumbling After (Old Globe, EST, HERE) when he was 15. The play won the Blank Theatre's Young Playwrights' Contests and led him to write Self Addressed (Blank, Edinburgh Fringe). Other plays: In Mrs. Baker's Room (Commission: Abingdon, Winner: Father Hamblin Award); A Real Boy (Produced at This Is Water Theatre; Semi-Finalist: PlayPenn, Ashland New Play Festival, MTWorks' Newborn Festival, Dayton Playhouse FutureFest); Exquisite Potential (Winner & Production: NJ Playwrights Contest, Dezart Performs; Finalist: Woodward/Newman; Semi-Finalist: Seven Devils); Tim Eless, Private Eye (Blank: w/Noah Wyle); and Six Seniors in Search of an Ending (special commission written for President Bill Clinton).

The cast of EXQUISITE POTENTIAL features Bob Ader (Gary Gerber), Matt Biagini (Gary and David Gerbert), Rachel Evans (Laura and Beth Zuckerman), Vince Gatton (Alan and David Zuckerman).

WORLD OF SINATRAS and EXQUISITE POTENTIAL have scenic design and props by Samantha Gass, costume design by Ryan Hanson, lighting design by Alejandro Fajardo, and sound design by Abi Degay. The Technical Director is Zack Cook, the Production Stage Manager is Josephine Ronga and Christal Vassilyadi is the Stage Manager. The graphic designer is Victor Barbella.

Sydnie Grosberg Ronga (Director) is on the Artistic Board of Project Rushmore. She was the Co-Founder of Max & Louie Productions, St. Louis, where she directed critically acclaimed productions of The Violet Hour, The Lady With All The Answers and It Had To Be You. Sydnie is the adaptor/director for Gotham Radio Theatre here in the city. Last season she directed Valhalla for Project Rushmore and The Awful Truth for Gotham Radio in the NYC Fringe Festival.

The Project Rushmore Theatre Company is committed to exploring the American Spirit. The company brings to life the voice of America in its many forms, presenting plays that offer inspiration and insight into American culture. Project Rushmore takes inspiration from the Works Progress Administration (WPA) of the 1930s, and like that program, they aim to create jobs in the Performing Arts. Last year, the company produced the NY premiere of Quality of Life by Jane Anderson and Paul Rudnick's Valhalla. The company presented a special benefit performance of E-mail 9/12 by Midge Guerrera, with proceeds going to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center.

Presented by The Project Rushmore Theatre Company, WORLD OF SINATRAS and EXQUISITE POTENTIAL will be performed at the Arclight Theatre (152 West 71st Street) Tuesday July 15th through August 3rd, 2014. Each play will be performed 12 times, and the performance schedules are:

WORLD OF SINATRAS: Tuesday, July 15 at 7:30 PM; Wednesday, July 16 at 7:30 PM; Saturday, July 19 at 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM; Wednesday, July 23 at 7:30 PM; Friday, July 25 at 7:30 PM; Sunday, July 27 at 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM; Wednesday, July 30 at 7:30 PM; Thursday, July 31 at 7:30 PM; Saturday, August 2 at 7:30 PM; and Sunday, August 3 at 2:00 PM.

EXQUISITE POTENTIAL: Thursday, July 17 at 7:30 PM; Friday, July 18 at 7:30 PM; Sunday, July 20 at 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM; Tuesday, July 22 at 7:30 PM; Thursday, July 24 at 7:30 PM; Saturday, July 26 at 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM; Tuesday, July 29 at 7:30 PM; Friday, August 1 at 7:30 PM; Saturday, August 2 at 2:00 PM; and Sunday, August 3 at 7:30 PM.

Tickets for WORLD OF SINATRAS and EXQUISITE POTENTIAL are $18 and can be made arranged beginning June 19th by calling 212-927-6403 or online at www.projectrushmorenyc.org.