HAND TO GOD to Get Atlanta Premiere at Dad's Garage

The ALLIANCE THEATRE is pleased to announce the Atlanta premiere of HAND TO GOD, the irreverent puppet comedy that was a 2015 Tony Award nominee for Best Play and the most produced play in American regional theater last season. Marc Masterson, Artistic Director of South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa, California, directs this "darkly delightful" (The New York Times) production. HAND TO GOD explores the startlingly fragile nature of faith, morality, and the ties that bind us. Performances are October 20 - November 12, 2017 at Dad's Garage while the ALLIANCE THEATRE undergoes a complete renovation. Opening night is Wednesday, October 25.

"I am thrilled to work with this exciting company of actors to bring Rob Askins's HAND TO GOD to life," said Masterson. "Nothing is sacred in this wild comedy about a puppet ministry that goes very, very wrong."

In HAND TO GOD, meek Jason finds an outlet for his anxiety at the Christian Puppet Ministry after the death of his father. Jason's complicated relationships with the town pastor, the school bully, the girl next door, and-most especially-his mother are thrown into upheaval when Jason's puppet, Tyrone, takes on a shocking personality all its own.

Leading the cast in the role of Jason/Tyrone is Ben Thorpe (Theatrical Outfit: Big Fish). Completing the cast are Allen Edwards (ALLIANCE THEATRE: Shakespeare in Love) as Pastor Greg; Alexandra Ficken (Alliance: In Love and Warcraft) as Jessica; Wendy Melkonian (Alliance: Ugly Lies the Bone) as Margery; and Patrick Wade (Alliance: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) as Timothy.

Members of the creative team include Michael B. Raiford (Set Designer); Jake Krakovsky (Puppet Coach); Liz Lee (Lighting Designer); Stowe Nelson (Sound Designer); Linda Roethke (Costume Designer); and David Sterritt (Fight Choreographer).

The Alliance is excited to partner with Dad's Garage again, following two holiday productions by Dad's Garage on the Hertz Stage while the comedy and improv company was transforming a church into its new theater space.

"Dad's Garage is thrilled to once again partner with the ALLIANCE THEATRE on another awesome show... but this time, they are coming to us! After several years of taking our irreverent brand of comedy to their stage, the Alliance is bringing their class-act brand of theater to our home," said Dad's Garage Artistic Director, Kevin Gillese. "Together, we're presenting HAND TO GOD - an off-beat, Tony-nominated comedy about a Christian ministry puppet possessed by the devil. We couldn't think of a better collaboration between our two theaters, and we look forward to this powerful, funny, and often shocking show."

Performances of HAND TO GOD are Tuesdays - Friday at 7:30 p.m., and Saturdays-Sundays at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., October 20 - November 12. There is no 2:30 p.m. performance on Saturday, October 21. Opening Night is Wednesday, October 18, at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets start at $20 and are available at the Woodruff Arts Center Box Office in person or by calling 404.733.5000. Tickets are available online at www.alliancetheatre.org/handtogod. Tickets are also available for purchase at Dad's Garage the hour before each performance.

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