Thirteenth Night Theatre Premieres 'Tender,' Opens 1/23

Thirteenth Night Theatre presents the New York Premiere of Tender, directed by Kevin O'Rourke. Performances begin Saturday January 19 at 8PM; opening night is Wednesday January 23 at 8PM at the Michael Weller Theatre.

"Tender takes place in a city full of chance encounters.  Al loves Hen, but now there is a baby on the way and everything looks different.  Gloria loves Marvin, but one day he walked out and disappeared.  And Hen's friend Tash just loves a laugh and a drink.  In this world of fast talk and hard sell, how much faith can we put in other people?" explain press notes.

Performances on Saturday, January 19 and Monday January 21 at 8pm. Opening: Wednesday, January 23 at 8pm.  Runs through February 9 at The Michael Weller Theatre (311 West 43rd Street, Suite 602).  Show runs Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8pm. Tickets: $18 at www.smartTix.com or 212-868-4444.

Tender stars Betsey Aidem (2007 Obie Award Winner: Sustained Excellence of Performance), Noel Joseph Allain (recent Julliard graduate), Torsten Hillhouse (recent American Repertory Theater graduate), Aylsia Reiner (On Film: Sideways - Screen Actor's Guild "Best Ensemble Cast" Award Winner. On Stage: Wasps in Bed, Jayson with a Y, and the New York premiere of Pentecost.  Married to David Alan Basche), John Rothman (Enchanted, United 93,  Pollock), Sarah Megan Thomas (most recently filming Buddy Gilbert Comes Alive, a feature with Elisabeth Moss, and seen in The New York Times commercial) and Jeffrey Woodard (MFA: University of Washington). 

Casting: Stephanie Klapper.  Set Design: Kevin Judge.  Lights: Lilly Fossner (MFA: NYU).  Costumes: Alixandra Gage Englund (MFA: Yale).  Sound: Arielle Edwards (MFA: Yale).

Abi Morgan was nominated for a 2002 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Most Promising Playwright for Tender.  She also wrote the play Splendour described by Lyn Garner as "the most beautiful, baffling play of the Edinburgh Fringe."  She is the writer of the shocking TV drama "Sex Traffic," which won awards worldwide, including best drama at both the Baftas and The Royal Television Society.  She also wrote Tsunami; The Aftermath for HBO.  She has already completed a film script for Monica Ali's Brick Lane and is currently adapting Sebastian Faulks' Birdsong for the big screen.

Kevin O'Rourke is directing this New York premiere of Tender.  Kevin directed The Physicist, starring Roger Reese at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in 2007, which was reviewed as a "snappy and very curious production." Mr. O'Rourke has performed in numerous plays in New York City.  Broadway credits include Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Spoils of War, and Alone Together.  On television, he has had recurring roles on "Law and Order SVU," and "One Life to Live." Film highlights include Riding in Cars with Boys and The Aviator.  Kevin was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for "Remember WENN."