Jerome Bixby's Final Story to Play New York in 2016

Producers of the upcoming New York production of The Man from Earth, a play adapted by film director and writer Richard Schenkman, announce their aim for a premier to be mounted Off-Broadway in the Spring of 2016.

The play, based on the screenplay by the prolific science fiction writer Jerome Bixby, is one of the most popular plays licensed by Samuel French in the international and regional markets.

Known as the "father" of Star Trek, Mr. Bixby wrote screenplays, teleplays, short stories and award winning novels under several pen names from the late 1950's until 1977. He conceived The Man from Earth in the 1960's as a short story while writing for the television series The Twilight Zone. Completing this screenplay in 1998 during his final days battling cancer makes this last of his work of his five decades of writing. Many blockbuster movies such as Alien (1979) and Fantastic Voyage (1966) were inspired by his short stories. Mr. Bixby's penned feature films such as Requiem for Methuselah (1969), Day of the Dove (1968), By Any Other Name (1968) and Mirror, Mirror (1967).

In Jerome Bixby's The Man from Earth, professor John Oldman unexpectedly resigns from the University, his startled colleagues impulsively invite themselves to his home, pressing him for an explanation. But they're shocked to hear his reason for premature retirement: John claims he must move on because he is immortal, and cannot stay in one place for more than ten years without his secret being discovered. Tempers rise and emotions flow as John's fellow professors attempt to poke holes in his story, but it soon becomes clear that his tale is as impossible to disprove as it is to verify. What starts out as a friendly gathering soon builds to an unexpected and shattering climax.

The play has been presented internationally since its debut in 2008. Since being translated into over fourteen languages there have been major productions mounted in Athens, Barcelona, Edinburg, Germany, Jerusalem and Saint Thomas, with its largest production to date to be mounted this year in Seoul, Korea.

The New York Production is led by Josh Parkin-Ring (Macy's Entertainment Group, Off-Broadway Alliance, JPR Omni, Sex, Love & Salsa), Jaye Maynard (TRU Award-winning Producer, CTI) as Developmental Producer and Christin Cato (TRU, Young Patrons of the Arts Circle) as Associate. Development consideration by Ron Schnittker and The Depot Theatre. Additional details to be announce at a later date.

The production can be followed on social media at @ManfromEarthNYC or by visiting manfromearthnyc.com.

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