Waltrudis Buck Joins Black Lab Theatre's 4000 MILES, Running 2/28-3/16

Waltrudis Buck, a veteran of film, television and stage, joins the cast of Black Lab Theatre's winter regional premiere of Amy Herzog's poignant Pulitzer nominated drama 4000 Miles.

The critically acclaimed drama, which won the Obie award for best new American play in 2012, chronicles the emotional reconnection between an underemployed generation Y grandson and his left-wing Jewish grandmother Vera. Buck, who has worked with such directors as Oliver Stone and Woody Allen, joins a cast of young Houston actors who have been featured in other Black Lab Theatre productions such as Chinglish and Boom which got 2013 best play nods from local Houston media.

Black Lab Theatre's production of 4000 Miles is the second in a three part 2013-2014 series of plays focusing on the life challenges of Generation Y Millennials. Black Lab's fall show Assistance was recently cited by Arts and Culture Texas Magazine as one of the "10 Most Moving Moments of 2013 on Houston's Dance and Theater Stages." In 4000 Miles millennial Leo, played by Jordan Jaffe, shows up unexpectedly and unannounced at Vera's Greenwich Village apartment in the midst of his cross country bicycle trip across the United States after suffering a personal loss. Leo's sudden arrival, while disruptive to Vera's routinized lifestyle, unfolds into a much needed human connection between two generations struggling in changing times.

"The play will resonate with all generations," notes Jordan Jaffe, Black Lab Theatre artistic director, who says the play reminded him of a time when he -like Leo- got snowed-in with his own liberally leaning Jewish grandmother during a New England blizzard. "What makes 4000 Miles special is that it captures both what is funny but also deeply moving from that kind of inter-generational experience."

4000 Miles will be directed by Black Lab Theatre resident director Justin Doran and will run at Frenetic Theater on Navigation Boulevard February 28 through March 16. In addition to Buck and Jaffe, the production will feature Shannon Hill (Main Street Theater: The Real Thing and Andrea Huang (Black Lab Theatre: Chinglish).

Founded in 2011 by Rice University graduate Jordan Jaffe, Black Lab Theatre focuses on bringing newer, socially conscious shows to audiences in fresh and innovative ways. For more information, please contact artistic director Jordan Jaffe at 713-417-3552.

General admission tickets are available for each performance. Tickets may be purchased at the door, by phone or via www.blacklabtheatre.com. Box office number: 713-515-4028

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