Kaitlin Colombo's THE CHOKING GAME to Debut with IRT Theater, 3/19-23

Executive Producers Exhibit Z/The Zoppa Brothers ("The Killing of Sister George" with Kathleen Turner) and Eric Michael Gillett (award-winning Producer, Director, and Performer) are asking you to be part of theatre history. Not since the days of Adam Rapp's "Red Light Winter", has a play come along with such intensity, geared specifically to a coveted demographic of young theatre-goers.

Written and acted by Kaitlin Colombo (NBC's Last Comic Standing Season IV, Off Broadway's Dog See's God, The Shape of Things). Also featuring John Zdrojeski (Off Broadway's Monster, The Kite Runner) and directed By Susanne Boulle, The Choking Game was developed in part through the IRT 3B Development Series. The production will run March 19th - March 23rd at IRT Theater. For more information, visit www.IRTTheater.org.

THE CHOKING GAME is the story of Natalie and Matt, a suburban 18 year-old couple who use their live amateur Internet sex show as a battleground in their crippling emotional and physical war against one another. It's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" for the YouTube generation. The story unfolds within 90 minutes, real time with two actors. All of the action is projected onto a screen above the stage so the theatre's audience always sees what the "home viewers" see.

There is no intermission. No break. No chance to look away before the play ends with a climax so devastating and shocking, audiences will be asked before the play begins not to reveal it to future theatre-goers.

In order to present this gripping theatrical piece, we are giving our upcoming Showcase all of the elements usually found only in contemporary Film/TV productions. In doing so, we have assembled some of NYC's brightest and finest - actors, crew, director, producers, and designers. It is a show that must be seen to be believed...

IRT Theater is located at 154 Christopher Street, NYC. Performances will run Tuesday 3/19 thru Saturday 3/23. Curtain at 8:00 PM; After Show Meet & Greet (approximately 9:30 PM).

For more about the show, visit www.TheChokingGame.net.

The Choking Game Production Team (AEA Approved Showcase):

Cast: Kaitlin Colombo (Natalie), John Zdrojeski (Matt), Dannie Flanagan (Natalie u/s), Benedict Mazurek (Matt u/s), (*) RL Campbell, Stage Manager, (*) Becca Pickett, Production Consultant

Kaitlin Colombo: Kaitlin is a NYC-based stand up comedian, actor, and writer. As a comic, she has appeared on NBC's "Last Comic Standing" (Season IV; Winner, Week #1 Online Fan favorite), MTV's "The Reality Show", The Maury Povitch Show, and E! Entertainment television as a comedic correspondent for multiple specials and including "Countdown to the Oscars: Live from the Red Carpet". She served as Host for AOL/XM's Satellite Radio's coverage of the New York City Underground Comedy Festival and hosted Ladies Home Journal's "Funny Women We Love" gala. The daughter of a Gay man and a Lesbian, she has appeared as a headliner of Rosie O'Donnell's R Family Cruise and has been a featured performer for Los Angeles and NYC's Gay Pride festivities. A regular on the college comedy and lecture circuit, she has lectured about LGBT Inclusion at various colleges across the country. As an actor, she has appeared as Marcy in "Dog Sees God" (The Red Door Theater Company/The Barrow Group Theatre, NYC), Vixen in "The Eight: Reindeer Monologues" (Times Square Arts Center, NYC), Evelyn in "The Shape of Things" (The Colombo Company, NYC) and has workshopped many original theatrical pieces as part of The Actors Studio's Playwright-Director's Workshop. For more information please visit www.KaitlinColombo.com.

John Zdrojeski: Theatre: Off Broadway/NYC: Monster (The Creature, Potomac Theatre Project); Peer Gynt (Peer, Tribeca Performing Arts Center). Regional: The Kite Runner (Assef, New Repertory Theatre); How I Learned To Drive (Male Greek Chorus, Boston Center for American Performance). University: Assassins (John Hinckley); Arcadia (Valentine); In the Summer House (Lionel). Radio: Dancing at Lughnasa (Michael, WBUR). Film: Jack (Jack, BU Student Film). Education: Boston University (BFA).

Susanne Boulle: Susanne is a director based in Manhattan. NY: PROOF, DOG SEES GOD for The Red Door Theatre, THE PRIVATE LIFE OF Emily Dickinson for American Int'l Theatre, STRANGE KINDNESS (Brook Berman), AFFAIR PLAY (Jessica Goldberg) for the Atlantic Theatre/New Works; THE MARRIAGE OF BETTE AND BOO for NYU/453 Studio; THE DEATH OF CHATTERTON (OR THE TRAGIC DEMISE OF THE MARVELOUS BOY FROM BRISTOL), THE DAD PLAY, BEST NIGHT EVER for the Actor's Studio Playwright/ Directors Workshop. Associate Art Director of Barter Theatre, 1994-98. Selected Credits: CIVIL WAR VOICES, BLACKBIRD, JACOB MARLEY'S CHRISTMAS CAROL, TRAVELS WITH MY AUNT, POW'R IN THE BLOOD, THE BABY DANCE, OF MICE AND MEN, THE TEMPEST, MOST LIKE BEING IN LOVE, THE GIFT OF THE MAGI, SWEET DELIVERANCE, MIRACLES. Founding member Barter Players, touring to over 120,000 students in 15 states. Teaching Artist, Theatre for a New Audience. Development of new plays at: Abingdon Theatre company, Teatro Latea, Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre.

Eric Michael Gillet: (Producer) Eric Michael Gillett is the proud recipient of the 2012 MAC Award for Outstanding Major Artist (Male) for his solo show Cast of Thousands, directed by Arthur Masella. He has been seen on Broadway in the original casts of Kiss Me, Kate (1999 revival), Sweet Smell of Success, and The Frogs. He is honored to have made his New York City Ballet debut as 'Father' in this production of Brecht/Weill's Seven Deadly Sins starring Patti LuPone and Wendy Whelan. Eric Michael conceived and directed Dance On, the 2010/2011 edition of New York's beloved Big Apple Circus. Lincoln Center audiences have also seen him in the New York City Opera productions of Cinderella, and Candide. Off- Broadway: "Papa" Denny Doherty in Dream a Little Dream at the Village Theatre, 'Richard' in the York Theater's workshop of the new musical, The Tutor, as well as Silent Laughter (Lambs), Good Companions (York), Of Thee I Sing (Encores), Frankenstein (37 Arts), Roller Derby (Alvin Ailey), December Fools (Abingdon), Time and Again (Manhattan Theatre Club), and the Carnegie Hall staging of Show Boat. He has toured the continental United States and appearing on countless television and radio programs, including the CBS television special, The Return of Gunther Gebel-Williams and the Walt Disney Sing-A-Long video, Let's Go to the Circus. Television: Law & Order (multiple), Ed, and Law & Order: SVU, American Gypsy (pilot). Film: Out of Order, Maid in Manhattan, My Brother, The Third Testament, In the Foxhole, the upcoming UntitlEd Drake Doremus Project and The Producers. Webisode: Comedy Central's Good God (guest star). Eric Michael is currently performing a critically acclaimed run of his new solo show, Careless Rhapsody: The Lyrics of Lorenz Hart at NYC's 54 Below. As a director, Eric Michael has worked with international concert artists from Jersey Boys Jarrod Spector and Grammy Award-winner Lari White to Karen Akers (Nine, Grand Hotel), KT Sullivan (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes), and Tovah Felshuh (Yentl, Saravah, Golde's Balcony). He directed 8 one-act plays by Eric Fallen under the umbrella title of Small Talk in Perfect Weather at the Montreal Fringe Festival and in NYC at HB Studio. At Carnegie Mellon, he directed A Little Night Music and he is currently helping to shepherd Tom Simes' new play, Figment to full production. Visit Eric Michael Gillett at www.ericmichaelgillett.com.

Exhibit Z/The Zoppa Brothers: (Producer) The North American premiere of Jeffrey Hatcher's adaptation of Frank Marcus' The Killing of Sister George, starring Kathleen Turner; Co-directed and produced the Theater Row revival of Alan Bowne's Beirut, with Meital Dohan (Showtime's Weeds )and Sammi Rotibi (Django Unchained); the New York premiere of Catch a Falling Star, a concert/staged production with Grammy nominee Angela McCluskey. Upcoming Production: 'Dumb Money' by playwright, screenwriter and novelist David Klass.

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