Photo Flash: First Look at HAND TO GOD, Opening Tonight at Kitchen Theatre Company

Kitchen Theatre Company opens its 26th Main Stage Season with the regional premiere of Robert Askins' delightfully shocking Hand to God, directed by Rachel Lampert, now through September 25. Opening Night is tonight, September 8. Nominated for five Tony Awards, Hand To God is irreverent, hilarious and profoundly truthful about the human condition and its relationship to death, religion, sexuality, and family dynamics. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Kitchen Theatre Company's cast includes Karl Gregory* (Jason/Tyrone), Erica Steinhagen* (Margery), Aundre Seals (Pastor Greg), Montana Lampert Hoover* (Jessica), Michael Patrick Trimm (Timothy) - and some very rude puppets. (*Member, Actors' Equity Association)

Pastor Greg has given Margery the job of running the church puppet club. Still reeling from the death of her husband and the emotional retreat of her teenage son Jason, Margery can hardly keep her own life in order, much less wrangle a group of ornery adolescents running on hormones and with no real interest in puppets. When Jason's puppet seems to be possessed by The Devil, all hell breaks loose. Will the demonic puppet Tyrone get his way? Will Cypress, Texas ever return to normal? Hand to God outrageously and uniquely tackles life's biggest questions with wild abandon, unleashing the dark side and revealing our humanity.

The creative team includes Erik Herskowitz (lighting design), Kent Goetz (scenic design), Scott Hitz (director of puppetry), Lisa Boquist (costume design), Lesley Greene (sound design), and Katherine McGeorge (puppet builder). Jen Schilansky is production stage manager. In conjunction with the Ithaca premiere of Hand to God, Kitchen Theatre Company will present a number of ancillary events. Post-show talkbacks are scheduled for Sunday, September 4, Tuesday, September 6, and Wednesday, September 7 (preview performances), and two Fridays: September 9 & 16 (facilitated by Lee Rayburn of WHCU).

Tickets are available by calling (607) 272-0570 or online at www.kitchentheatre.org. Hand to God contains adult language and situations and is recommended for ages 16+.

Photo Credit: Dave Burbank