THE INVISIBLE HAND Begins Tonight at Westport Country Playhouse

Global finance and cultures collide in "The Invisible Hand," a topical thriller written by Pulitzer Prize winner Ayad Akhtar, at Westport Country Playhouse, tonight, July 19 - August 6. Director is David Kennedy, Playhouse associate artistic director.

In "The Invisible Hand," an American futures trader is kidnapped and held hostage in Pakistan. His ransom is ten million dollars. Using his global market expertise, he turns his prison cell into a trading floor in an attempt to raise the ransom money and earn freedom.

"'The Invisible Hand' intelligently and sensitively examines some of the most pressing and important geopolitical subjects of our era-the war on terror, hostages, the use of drones, the American relationship with Muslim-majority countries, and the feeling that hundreds of millions have that the international financial system is rigged to benefit only a few," said Kennedy. "Playwright Ayad Akhtar, as a Muslim-American and a Pakistani-American, brings a unique point of view to these subjects. And he presents a sympathetic portrait of all the people involved, providing deep context for better understanding many of these extremely difficult issues."

Critics said that "The Invisible Hand" has "the heart-in-mouth tension of a full-blown political thriller" (Variety), and that the playwright is "a dazzling new voice in American theater" (The Washington Post). The Financial Times called the play "fiendishly clever."

The title of the play is derived from a concept that 'the invisible hand' is a natural phenomenon that guides the free market by everyone's self-interest, attributed to economist Adam Smith.

The cast includes Jameal Ali as Dar (Off-Broadway's "The Invisible Hand," "Romeo and Juliet"; London's "Titus Andronicus," "Our Country's Good); Eric Bryant as Nick Bright (WCP's "Room Service"; Off-Broadway's "Angels in America"; TV's "The Blacklist," "Blue Bloods" "Deception"); Fajer Kaisi as Bashir (Regional theater's "Disgraced"; Off-Broadway and international tour of "Aftermath"; film's "Long Halftime Walk" - Ang Lee); and Rajesh Bose as Imam Saleem (Off-Broadway's "Indian Ink," Long Wharf Theatre's "Disgraced" - Connecticut Critics Circle Award for Best Actor; TV's "The Sopranos").

Author Ayad Akhtar was born in New York City and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is a novelist and author of "American Dervish," published in over 20 languages worldwide and named a 2012 Best Book of the Year by Kirkus Reviews, Toronto's Globe and Mail, Shelf Awareness, and O, The Oprah Magazine. His play "Disgraced" won the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, ran on Broadway, and is currently the most-produced play in the country. Other plays "The Who & The What" and "The Invisible Hand" received Off-Broadway runs and are currently being produced around the world. Akhtar was listed as the most-produced playwright for the 2015/16 season by American Theatre. As a screenwriter, he was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay for "The War Within."

Director David Kennedy is in his eighth season as Playhouse associate artistic director. He has directed Playhouse productions each season, including "Suddenly Last Summer," and "Loot." He was previously with Dallas Theater Center, and was founding artistic director of The Lunar Society in Toronto and Milkman Theatre Group in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The design team includes Adam Rigg, scenic design; Emily Rebholz, costume design, Matthew Richards, lighting design; and Fitz Patton, sound design.

"The Invisible Hand" performance schedule is Tuesday at 7 p.m., Wednesday at 2 and 8 p.m., Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 3 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. Special series feature Taste of Tuesday, LGBT Night OUT, Opening Night, Sunday Symposium, Open Captions, Thursday TalkBack, Together at the Table Family Dinner, Playhouse Happy Hour, and Backstage Pass.

Concurrent with the run of "The Invisible Hand," The Playhouse will present a community engagement initiative, "Money, Power and Belief: Reflections on 'The Invisible Hand'." Programming will include speakers, discussions, post-show salons, a film screening, and a month-long lobby exhibit. The programs are free and open to the public. A complete calendar of community engagement events is available on-line at westportplayhouse.org, or a special brochure may be requested by calling The Playhouse box office at 203-227-4177.

"The Invisible Hand" Production Sponsors are Jill and Alex Dimitrief, and Judy and Scott Phares. Production Partners are David and Eunice Bigelow Foundation, Michael Klingher and Lindsay Schine, and Johnna G. Torsone and John McKeon.

Single tickets start at $30; buy early for best prices. For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.westportplayhouse.org or call the box office at (203) 227-4177, toll-free at 1-888-927-7529, or visit Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court, off Route 1, Westport.

The mission of Westport Country Playhouse is to enrich, enlighten, and engage the community through the power of professionally produced theater worth talking about and the welcoming experience of The Playhouse campus. The Playhouse creates this relationship with the community and provides this experience in multiple ways by offering: Live theater experiences of the highest quality from May through October; educational and community engagement events and opportunities to further explore issues presented by the work on stage; special performances and programs for students and teachers with extensive curriculum support material; Script in Hand play readings throughout the year to deepen relationships with audiences and artists alike; the renowned Woodward Internship Program training program during the summer months for aspiring theater professionals; Family Festivities presentations from November through April to delight young and old alike and to promote reading through live theater; and the beautiful and historic Playhouse campus open for enjoyment and community events year-round. The value of the Westport Country Playhouse to all it touches is immeasurable. Stay connected to The Playhouse on Facebook (Westport Country Playhouse), follow on Twitter (@WCPlayhouse), and on YouTube (WestportPlayhouse).

?Pictured: The cast of Westport Country Playhouse's "The Invisible Hand": L-R, seated, Eric Bryant as Nick Bright, Rajesh Bose as Imam Saleem; top row, Fajer Kaisi as Bashir, and Jameal Ali as Dar. Photo by Don Rebar.

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