Geva Theatre Center Presents The World Premiere Of HARD CELL By Brent Askari

Geva Theatre Center presents the world premiere of Hard Cell, by Brent Askari and directed by Skip Greer, in the Elaine P. Wilson Stage from January 8 through February 3.

A madcap new comedy of errors and mistaken identity. When college professor Nick Abtahi finds himself lost in a small Midwestern town, the welcome mat doesn't exactly get rolled out by its crazy collection of locals. This laugh out loud comedy makes its world premiere at Geva.

Playwright Brent Askari is a writer, actor and ensemble member of Mad Horse Theatre Company. Other recent plays include: Digby's Home (Semi-finalist O'Neill Playwriting Conference, produced at Mad Horse Theatre); Cocktails and Travails (Winner of Neil Simon Festival's National New Play Contest, produced at The Theater Project); American Underground (Semi-finalist O'Neill Playwriting Conference); Bending Reeds (Semi-Finalist Bay Area Playwrights Festival, Blank Theater's Living Room Series Reading). In addition, he has had plays produced at or developed by Vital Theatre, Melrose Theatre, The 78th Street Theatre, The Boston Theatre Marathon, The Santa Fe Playhouse Different Festival, The John Houseman Theater, New American Theatre, The Drilling Company, Choice Theatricals and Penobscot Theatre Company, He was part of HBO's New Writers Project and has written screenplays for Paramount Pictures, Marvel Films, MTV, and Reveille Entertainment. As an actor, Brent has appeared in numerous theatrical productions and audio dramas. He narrated the syndicated children's television program Animal Science, which was nominated for a Daytime Emmy in 2014.

Hard Cell was developed at the 2017 PlayPenn Conference and given a staged reading at EST L.A.'s Winterfest Series, before its world premiere at Geva Theatre Center.

The ensemble cast is a blend of Geva favorites and veteran actors making their Geva debuts. Jennifer Cody (Broadway productions of A Christmas Story, The Pajama Game, Taboo, Urinetown the Musical, Seussical the Musical, Beauty and the Beast, Grease and Cats) returns home to Geva where she has appeared in Sylvia, Monty Python's Spamalot, the world premiere of Women in Jeopardy! and The Odd Couple. Ms. Cody appears as Terry Burton. Patrick Noonan returns for his fifth Wilson Stage production in the role of Evan Weathers. Past Geva shows include Our Town; On Golden Pond; The Odd Couple; and Almost, Maine. Making their Geva Theatre Center debuts are Sean Patrick Doyle (Broadway productions of Kinky Boots and La Cage Aux Folles) as Derek Shirley; Vanessa Morosco (Off-Broadway production of Around the World in 80 Days; Titus Andronicus, A Midsummer Night's Dream at NJ's Shakespeare Theatre; The Importance of Being Earnest at the Shakespeare Theatre in Washington, D.C.) as Jane Simons; and Nuah Ozryel (Much Ado About Nothing at the American Theatre, "The Looming Tower" (Hulu) and NBC's "The Blacklist" as Nick Abtahi.

Hard Cell is directed by Skip Greer. The creative team for Hard Cell includes Robert Koharchik (scenic design), Christine Pascual (costume design), Derek Madonia (lighting design), Dan Roach (sound design), Jenni Werner (Co-Dramaturg) and Becca Poccia Hays (Co-Dramaturg).

The 2018-2019 Season is sponsored by ESL Federal Credit Union and Rochester Regional Health. The Honorary Season Producer is Dr. Dawn Lipson. Hard Cell is produced with support from Lead Co-Producer Joseph & Irene Skalny Charitable Trust; Co-Producer Gray Locey, CPA, P.C.; and Media Sponsors 98 PXY and WROC-TV.

Hard Cell begins previews on January 8, opens January 12 and runs through February 3.

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