Hurrice Hits The Flea in 'Lower Ninth' with Charles, McDaniel; Begins 2/14

The Flea Theater presents the World Premiere of Lower Ninth, a new play inspired by the effects of Hurricane Katrina. Written by Beau Willimon, this new drama will be directed by Daniel Goldstein (the forthcoming Broadway revival of Godspell), and will feature Gaius Charles (of ABC-TV's "Friday Night Lights," in his Off-Broadway debut), Drama Desk and Obie Award winner James McDaniel ("NYPD Blue," A Soldier's Play, Six Degrees of Separation) and Gbenga Akkinagbe (HBO's "The Wire"). Performances begin February 14 with opening night scheduled for Thursday, February 28.

"Lower Ninth is about two men stranded on a roof after a terrible storm. As Malcom and E-Z struggle to survive, they must battle heat, hunger and their pasts. Ultimately, their only hope for salvation rests with each other," explain press notes.

Beau Willimon has written seven full-length plays that have been developed or performed at venues including Ars Nova, MCC, HERE Arts Center, New Dramatists, and The DR2 Theatre. He is a recipient of the Lila Acheson Wallace Juilliard Playwriting Fellowship and  the Lincoln Center Le Compte du Nuoy Award. Lower Ninth was included as part of Arielle Tepper's 2007 Summer Play Festival and his play Farragut North has been optioned for Broadway by Jeffrey Richards. In addition to his work in theatre, Willimon is currently working on two feature films for Warner Brothers and one for Fox 2000.  A resident of Brooklyn, Willimon holds an M.F.A. in playwriting from Columbia University.

Daniel Goldstein's upcoming projects include the Broadway transfer of Godspell, which he originally directed at the Paper Mill Playhouse, and Sinan Unel's The Cry of The Reed at Huntington Theatre Company. Recent credits include Lower Ninth at SPF, Kenny Finkle's Indoor/Outdoor at the DR2, and But I'm A Cheerleader at the New York Musical Theater Festival. He has served as the Associate Director for All Shook Up! and Fully Committed, and the Resident Director for the First National Tour of Mamma Mia!

Lower Ninth runs February 14 - April 5, Tuesday - Friday at 7pm & Saturday at 3pm & 7pm.  The Flea Theater, is located at 41 White Street (between Broadway & Church Streets). Tickets are $40 (Tuesdays - Thursdays and Saturday matinees) and $45 (Friday and Saturday evenings.) For tickets, visit www.theflea.org or call 212-352-3101.

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