Austin Pendleton Stars in House Red Theatre's CONSIDER THE LILIES, Beginning Tonight

Celebrated actor/director/playwright Austin Pendleton* (Bway: Fiddler on the Roof, Diary of Anne Frank; Grand Hotel; Film: "A Beautiful Mind," "Finding Nemo," "Finding Dory") stars in House Red Theatre Company's inaugural production of Consider the Lilies by Stuart Fail. A world premiere love story with tragic consequences, the cast of six also includes Peter Collier, Eric Joshua Davis*, Joseph Hamel, Alec Merced, and Liarra Michelle.

Performances will be staged at TBG Theatre, 312 West 36th Street in NYC from tonight, January 11, through January 28, 2017. *Member, Actors' Equity Association. AEA Showcase.

Paralyzed by the fear of getting old, Paul is a legendary, lonely, alcoholic painter engaging in reckless behavior as his younger actor-turned-agent, David, struggles to return Paul to his former glory. These soulmates face their demons together, creating a strong and volatile bond leading each to perform desperate acts of love.

"With groups of people like the LGBTQ community being marginalized by the Alt-Right, the time is ripe for artists to share their perspectives about these issues," states playwright Stuart Fail. "I hope that my play can offer a look at real people with real problems who would otherwise never get the time of day from a cold and closed society."

A House Red Theatre Company production. Sets & Lighting Designer; SAra Watson; Costume Designer: Lauren Levin; Sound Designer: Andy Evan Cohen; Stage Manager: Emily C. Rolston*; Assistant Stage Manager: Rachel Williams; General Manager: Matt Kagen; Public Relations: Paul Siebold/Off Off PR.

Tickets are: $18 Adults. Visit BrownPaperTickets.com or call 800-838-3006. For more information, visit www.houseredtheatre.com. Sixteen performances will be staged from January 11-28, 2017 on the following schedule: Tuesdays-Saturdays at 7:30pm, and Sundays at 2:00pm. Opening night is Friday, January 13th at 7:30pm.

Stuart Fail (director/playwright) began his career in theatre, film and television twenty-five years ago. He has directed for theatres in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Tampa and Minneapolis. His directing credits include: Andrea's Got Two Boyfriends, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Orphans, Uncle Vanya, Hurlyburly, A Life in the Theatre, the Rise and Rise of Daniel Rocket, A Christmas Carol, Independence, Crimes of the Heart, Twelfth Night, King John, Savage in Limbo, Keely and Du, Burn This, Psycho Beach Party, The Artificial Jungle. Stuart's plays have been produced in Atlanta, Los Angeles and Minneapolis. Consider the Lilies is Stuart's first New York production as both a playwright and director. Stuart is a founding member of House Red Theatre Company, which began in 1998 in Atlanta; now producing its first New York production. Stuart holds an MFA in Screenwriting from UCLA's Theatre, Film and Television program, and he holds an MFA in Theatre Arts: Directing from Minnesota State University.

House Red Theatre: Touching Hearts and Raising Awareness since 1998. A good vintage. We strive to tell stories that enable the audience to see the world around them, and to bridge the gaps in our lives that drive us apart.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

Austin Pendleton* has been a Steppenwolf ensemble member since 1987. His acting credits at Steppenwolf include The Sunset Limited, Uncle Vanya, Valparaiso and Educating Rita. His previous directing credits at Steppenwolf include Love Song, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, Harvey, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Three Sisters, Loose Ends and Say Goodnight, Gracie. His play Orson's Shadow premiered in the Steppenwolf Garage and was seen again in the same production (directed by David Cromer) at the Chicago Center of Performing Arts and the Barrow Street Theatre in New York. His other plays have also been produced in Chicago: Uncle Bob (Steppenwolf) and Booth (Writers' Theatre). He recently appeared in The Public Theater production of Mother Courage and Her Children and appeared on Broadway in the revival of The Diary of Anne Frank and Off-Broadway in the title roles of Hamlet, Richard III and Richard II. His film credits include "Dirty Work," "The Ballad of Betty Page," "A Beautiful Mind," "Mr. and Mrs. Bridge," "Simon," "Trial and Error," "What's Up Doc," "Catch-22," "Wall Street 2" and many more. TV appearances include episodes of "Law and Order: Criminal Intent," "OZ" and "Homicide."

Peter Collier was born and raised in New Jersey. He graduated with a BA from West Chester University in Pennsylvania. He then studied under the Labyrinth Theatre Co and Maggie Flanigan Studio. Peter has performed with/at: Atlantic Theatre Co, BAM, Cherry Lane, Labyrinth Theater, Nylon Fusion Co, Vertigo Theater co and The Actors Studio. Credits include: Henry V (title role), Chokehold (Planet Connections Outstanding Supporting Actor), A Thousand Deaths and I, Horatio (both New York Fringe Festival), Richard III and Macbeth (both Secret Theatre), The Skin of Our Teeth (Henry) and City Girls and Desperadoes (opposite Austin Pendleton). Peter has also performed in Singapore at the Esplanade Theaters on the Bay. www.petercollierjr.com

Eric Joshua Davis* is a screen and stage actor. He trained in London UK at Rose Bruford and has acted on film, television and stage in Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Atlanta, and Philadelphia. He is a founding company member of House Red Theatre. Past roles with the company include Stanley in Brighton Beach Memoirs and Richard in The Rise and Rise of Daniel Rocket. Recent film and television credits include "Sleepy Hollow," "Nashville," and "Pacific Edge" with Ed Asner which won the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival. Favorite stage roles include Bunce in One Flea Spare in the UK and the Ringmaster in Barnum at The Main Street Theatre.

Joseph Hamel - Off-Broadway: Pearl Theatre, The Master Builder, The Mandrake, 1 Henry 4. Regional: Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Love's Labour's Lost, Henry VIII , Our Town; Queens Theater in the Park, Studio, Orson's Shadow, The Beard of Avon. NYC: Bridge Production Group, Richard III; Midlantic Theatre Co.; 2/3 Henry 6; Gorilla Rep., FOOL; York Shakespeare Co., The Merchant of Venice, The Jew of Malta, Hudson Warehouse, Cyrano, Hamlet, Macbeth, Tempest, As You Like It, Love's Labour's Lost, Much Ado About Nothing, Othello. Film: "The Murders of Cane Hill," "The Jew of Malta," "Left Bank Bookseller."

Alec Merced makes his Off-Broadway debut with Austin Pendleton in this production. Regional Credits: Aladdin in Disney's Aladdin, Matt in The Fantasticks, Carlos in A Joyful Noise, Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet, and Prince Klaus in The Snow Queen. Training: 7 years performing with Stage One: The Louisville Children's Theatre. Graduate of The Youth Performing Arts School. INSTAGRAM: @rodrico9

Liarra Michelle is originally from Denver, she has performed both regionally as well as in NYC, and has a passion for new and daring theatre. Recent/favorite credits include Captive Audience, The Signal Season of Dummy Hoy, Smoke on the Mountain, and Inherit the Wind. She is an active member of New York Deaf Theatre and The Shelter NYC. www.liarramichelle.com

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