Photo Flash: First Look at Joe Orrach in Odyssey Theatre's IN MY CORNER

A universal story, uniquely told. Odyssey Theatre Ensemble presents In My Corner, a singular new play byLizbeth Hasse and Joe Orrach that works boxing, tap dance and music into the story of a street smart, wise guy Puerto Rican kid from New York City who comes of age in the ring and at the barre. Jeremiah Chechik (Benny & Joon, Diabolique) directs Orrach in an exhilarating performance that takes off to the beat of an original score by Matthew Clark, performed live on stage by Clark on piano, Eugene Warren on bass and percussionist Ronnie Gutierrez. In My Corner opened for a nine-week run at the Odyssey Theatre on Sept. 6. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production below!

Footwork is everything for storyteller, pugilist and hoofer Joe Orrach, a "Nuyorican" who grew up in Farmingdale, Long Island by way of the Bronx. Developed and workshopped at Intersection for the Arts in San Francisco and the New Black Box Theatre in Oakland (where the Çontra Costa Times called it a "knockout"), In My Corner chronicles Joe's unusual journey, his narrative all the while accompanied by the riffs and rhythms of Latin, jazz and rock 'n roll.

"This is a very powerful, emotionally charged piece that taps into universal themes of fathers and sons," explains Chechik. "What's so extraordinary is the way that dynamic creeps up on you because it's played out in such an entertaining way."

"I didn't know what I was writing at first," Orrach said in an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle. "I cried over it. I had to smoke during breaks. There are poignant moments. Beautiful moments. And some not-so-pretty moments. But all I can say is that it's reality. It's my truth."

Joe Orrach hung up his gloves as US Air Force Welterweight Champ and started dancing on the street corner of Broadway and 72nd St. in New York City. There, Gregory Hines found him and brought him inside, giving him his start. Since then, Joe has appeared in theaters on four continents, on TV and on stage with Joan Baez, Bob Hope, the Smothers Brothers, Michael Davis, Liliane Montevechi, Bill Irwin, David Shiner, Melissa Manchester and the Cookie Monster, to name a few. He has tap danced throughout the world with Gregory Hines, Jimmy Slyde and Savion Glover, as well as with some of the old masters like the Nicholas Brothers, Honi Coles, Charles "Cookie" Cook, Chuck Green and Lon Cheney. On screen, Joe has been directed by Woody Allen (Everyone Says I Love You), James Mangold (Copland), Tim Boxell (Valley of the Heart's Delight) and David Shiner (Nacht Mund). Joe performed as "Tino" and other characters at San Francisco's popular Teatro Zinzanni for six years. CNN International profiled Joe on "People in the Arts." Although he learned on the street, Joe went on to receive a performing arts and theater education at St. Mary's College, and he holds an MFA in Acting from USC's School of Dramatic Arts.

Jeremiah Chechik graduated from McGill University where he studied theater. He got his start in film directing the now-classic comedy, National Lampoon'sChristmas Vacation, going on to helm Benny & Joon, Diabolique, Tall Tale and The Avengers among others. His extensive directing credits for television include miniseries such as The Bronx is Burning with Oliver Platt, Kevin Conway and John Turturro, as well as series such as Burn Notice, Gossip Girl, Leverage, Warehouse 13 and Hart of Dixie. His latest film, The Right Kind of Wrong, will be released in 2014.

Composer and musical director Matthew Clark holds a BFA in Jazz Studies from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. Highly regarded as a pianist and arranger, he has performed and/or recorded with jazz greats Benny Golson, Bobby Hutcherson, Eddie Marshall, John Faddis, Jimmy Cobb, Teddy Edwards, Gene Bertoncini, Joshua Redman and the late David "Fathead" Newman. He has toured throughout Asia, Europe and the United States including appearances at Monterey, San Francisco, Vienne, Big Sur, Stanford and Rochester jazz festivals in addition to televised performances for CNN Showbiz Today and numerous PBS specials. Recognized primarily for his tasteful soloing and supportive accompaniment, Matthew is also a respected clinician frequently as a lecturer in jazz history and ensemble instructor at Stanford Jazz and other institutions.

Writer and producer Lizbeth Hasse has written and produced for television documentaries on NBC, BBC and Russian state television, as well as writing fiction and in the fields of geopolitics, media and entertainment law. Her other life is as an intellectual property and media lawyer.

In My Corner is produced by Beth Hogan and Lizbeth Hasse.

Performances of In My Corner take place on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays @ 8 p.m. and Sundays @ 2 p.m.*, Sept. 6 through Nov. 3. (*On Sunday, Sept. 8 only, the performance will be @ 5 p.m. with no 2 p.m. matinee.) Tickets are $30, except for the performance on Saturday, Sept. 7 which is$45 and includes a gala reception following the performance. The Odyssey Theatre is located at 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West Los Angeles, 90025. For reservations and information, call (310) 477-2055 or go to www.OdysseyTheatre.com.

Photo Credit: Enci Box

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