Jason O'Connell's THE DORK KNIGHT to Bring Batman to Abingdon

Abingdon Theatre Company kicks off 2017 with a limited engagement of THE DORK KNIGHT, a new play written and performed by Jason O'Connell (star of Bedlam's recent Off-Broadway hit Sense and Sensibility) about his complicated relationship with the Caped Crusader.

Performances run January 6-29, as part of Abingdon's new Second Stage Series featuring immediate and immersive new works. Artistic Director Tony Speciale is set to direct, with the official press opening scheduled for January 17.

A look into one man's obsession with movies about another man's obsession with dressing up like a rodent and punching people, THE DORK KNIGHT traces the ups and downs of actor Jason O'Connell's personal and professional life as seen through the prism of his love/hate relationship with the Batman movies.

Featuring numerous "cameos" from the bat-voices in O'Connell's head, THE DORK KNIGHT is a trip down cinematic memory lane that begins with the 1989 Michael Keaton blockbuster, and strolls past George Clooney's bat-nipples, Christian Bale's bat-growl, and a couple of iconic Jokers en route to (sigh) Batfleck. O'Connell's funny, intimate memoir demonstrates how one's "inner geek" can guide and inspire in good times and in bad.

Jason O'Connell is an actor, writer, and director who most recently appeared Off-Broadway in Bedlam's production of Sense and Sensibility as the brothers Edward and Robert Ferrars. Other Off-Broadway credits include Puck and Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream at The Pearl, Trigorin in The Seagull with Bedlam, Penny Pennyworth for Emerging Artists Theatre, and Bedlam's Hamlet and Saint Joan. Jason's portrayal of the title role in Phoenix Theatre Ensemble's Don Juan in Hell earned him the 2014 NYIT Award for Outstanding Lead Actor and a place on Terry Teachout's list of the Best Performances of 2013 in The Wall Street Journal. Jason has also spent 8 consecutive seasons with the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, where his credits include Dorante in The Liar, Berowne in Love's Labour's Lost, Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing, Claudius in Hamlet, and multiple roles in The 39 Steps, Around the World in 80 Days, and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged). Other Shakespeare credits include the roles of Hamlet, Richard III, Petruchio, Mercutio, and Falstaff. Jason has worked at numerous regional theatres, including American Players Theatre, Great Lakes Theater, and Portland Stage, and has made multiple appearances at Florida Studio Theatre (Next Fall, The Goat, etc) and Arkansas Rep (All My Sons and Clybourne Park, among others). Television credits include Law & Order: SVU and Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Directing credits include the touring and apprentice company productions of Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival's A Midsummer Night's Dream, Complete Works of Shakespeare for Texas Shakespeare Festival, Dances With Pitchforks at Joe's Pub, and An Ideal Husband for Phoenix Theatre Ensemble. THE DORK KNIGHT is Jason's first full-length theatrical piece as a writer, though he has been writing and performing stand-up and sketch comedy for over 20 years. He has performed THE DORK KNIGHT at Joe's Pub, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, Under St. Mark's, The Access Theater, Davenport Studios, TADA, Hofstra University, SUNY New Paltz, Arcansa Arts Festival in Little Rock, and last season at Abingdon Theatre as a special one-night engagement. Upcoming: O'Connell will star in a small-cast take on The Merry Wives of Windsor at NJ's Two River Theater in February and March of 2017.

In October 2015, Tony Speciale joined Abingdon Theatre Company as its Artistic Director. In June 2016, he directed the world premiere of Stet, which he conceived with playwright Kim Davies and actress Joceylyn Kuritsky. He is also the founder of Plastic Theatre-conceiving, co-authoring and directing the world premiere of Unnatural Acts (Classic Stage Company-Drama Desk Award nominee, GLAAD Media Award nominee). NYC directing credits: The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey (Dixon Place/Westside Theatre); A Midsummer Night's Dream featuring Bebe Neuwirth, Christina Ricci and Taylor Mac (Classic Stage Company); Matthew-Lee Erlbach's Handbook for an American Revolutionary (The Gym at Judson); and Remembering Mr. Maugham (Clurman Theatre). Regional: The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey (Kirk Douglas Theatre/Bay Street Theater), Barry Manilow's Harmony (ALLIANCE THEATRE/Ahmanson Theatre) and Romeo and Juliet (Actors Theatre of Louisville). Tony served four seasons as Associate Artistic Director of Classic Stage Company, where he helped found and administered The Young Company, CSC's premiere Education and Outreach Program for public high school students. He studied musical theatre at The Boston Conservatory and holds an M.F.A. in Directing from Columbia University. He is also the proud recipient of a Princess Grace Theatre Honorarium and a Suzi Bass Award.

Abingdon's Second Stage Series features intimate productions in the 56-seat Dorothy Strelsin Theatre. With seating capability on three sides, the goal is to create an immediate and immersive "theatre in the raw" experience for audiences, with a focus on performance and storytelling.

Abingdon Theatre Company launches its mainstage season in the June Havoc Theatre with James Lecesne's The Mother of Invention in late-January, 2017. Abingdon is dedicated to developing and producing new work by emerging and established American artists. Under the artistic direction of Tony Speciale, the company provides a safe home where playwrights, directors and actors can collaborate within a supportive and nurturing environment. Abingdon Theatre Company searches for stories about the human experience that reflect our social, political, historical and cultural diversity. To date, the company has collaborated with more than 200 playwrights, produced 87 New York and world-premiere plays, presented more than 700 readings, staged over 175 ten-minute plays, and commissioned 6 one-act plays. Notable artists who have worked with Abingdon Theatre Company include Carl Andress, Bryan Batt, Reed Birney, Robert Brustein, Mario Cantone, Maxwell Caulfield, Dick Cavett, John Epperson, Jane Greenwood, Arthur Kopit, Ralph Macchio, Roberta Maxwell, Charles L. Mee, Iddo Netanyahu, Nancy Opel, Austin Pendleton, Sam Pinkleton, Marcia Rodd and Mark Waldrop. Abingdon's 2014 production of Brian Richard Mori's Hellman v. McCarthy, directed by founding artistic director Jan Buttram, was filmed and presented by WNET as part of its inaugural Theatre Close-Up series. Visit abingdontheatre.org for more.

THE DORK KNIGHT runs January 6-29: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:00PM; Fridays at 8:00PM; Saturdays at 3:00PM and 8:00PM; and Sundays at 2:30 PM at Abingdon Theatre Company's Dorothy Strelsin Theatre (312 West 36th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues). Tickets are $25. For tickets, visit abingdontheatre.org or call 212-352-3101.

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