Michael Bakkensen & Lea DeLaria to Open OUT OF ICELAND on Sunday

Out of Iceland began previews March 24th Off-Broadway at Walkerspace (46 Walker Street, between Broadway and Church). Opening night is set for this Sunday, April 1st (at 7pm). This limited engagement runs through Sunday April 22nd. Alfred R. Kahn, in association with Culture Project is producing the Off-Broadway Premiere of Out of Iceland by Drew Larimore, directed by Josh Hecht. Michael Bakkensen, Jillian Crane and Lea DeLaria star. 

Out of Iceland will have scenic design by Narelle Sissons (All My Sons, Roundabout; How I Learned To Drive, Vineyard, Century Center; Stop Kiss, Julius Caesar and Little Flower of East Orange, Public Theatre), lighting design by Paul Whitaker, costume design by Jennifer Caprio, original music by Ryan Rumery, and sound design by Ryan Rumery and M. Florian Staab.

Caroline Miller (Crane), an established writer from New York, is at a loss for words when she falls off an Icelandic volcano and awakes on the couch of a complete stranger. Hal Tanker (Bakkensen) is the misplaced cowboy in charge of the grounds who nurses her back to health. Then there's Thor (De Laria), Iceland's flamboyant troll who crawled out of the television one night to warn her about something – or did she imagine that? When their truck mysteriously disappears in the middle of “The Middle,” Hal and Caroline must face their biggest fears in a long night in one of the most mystical places on earth. Out of Iceland is a modern day fairy tale set at the end of the earth.

Michael Bakkensen’s Broadway credits include Noises Off, Festen, and The Man Who Came to Dinner. Among his Off- and Off-Off credits: World Premiere of RX (Primary Stages), The Secret of Mme. Bonnard’s Bath (Kirk), The Paris Letter (u/s Roundabout), Tales of Doomed Love (West End), Waxing West (Lark) and Alarms (Here). Regional: Premieres of Ether Dome (Alley Theatre), The School of Night (Mark Taper Forum), Brian Friel’s The Home Place (Guthrie), Indoor/ Outdoor, also Shakespeare Theatre DC, CENTERSTAGE, Arena, Hartford Stage, ACT, Alliance, Alabama & NJ Shakespeare, Hangar. Film: On The Slope (indie), Memoria Mortalis (Sundance) TV: “Law & Order(s)”, “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” “Guiding Light,” “Stage on Screen.”

Jillian Crane has performed in leading roles at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Huntington Theatre and Trinity Repertory Theatre. She created the role of The Woman in the premiere of Sam Shepard’s short play, It Wasn’t Proust at The Matrix Theater in Los Angeles. Other roles include Queen Anne in Circle X’s Edward II at The Actors Gang, Beth in Dinner With Friends at The Vineyard Playhouse, Ophelia in Fortinbras at The 78th Street Theatre Lab. Most recently, she was seen in the Ensemble Studio Theater’s Winterfest reading of Touch written by Drew Larimore and in The Blank Theater’s Living Room Series reading of Out of Iceland. She went on to develop the part of Caroline in Out of Iceland with the playwright at The Telluride Playwright’s festival. Ms. Crane’s film credits include Election (dir. Alexander Payne); Hamlet (dir. Campbell Scott); The Great New Wonderful (dir. Danny Leiner); and Great Kills Road, directed by the Dutch director, Tjebbo Penning. Her TV credits include "The Practice," "Law and Order Criminal Intent," and "Homicide."

Lea DeLaria’s Broadway credits include On the Town (Obie, Theatre World and Drama Desk nominee), The Rocky Horror Show. Off-Broadway/Regional: Prometheus Bound (ART), On the Town, Midsummer Night’s Dream (McCarter Theater), As You Like It (Williamstown Theater Festival), Happy Days (Drama League Honoree), Little Fish, Cinderella (NY City Opera), The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told; Encores! and Reprise!: Li'l Abner, Boys from Syracuse (Ovation nominee). National tour: Chicago. Film: Edge of Seventeen, The First Wives Club, Sgt. Bilko, Rescuing Desire, Mercury in Retrograde, Fat Rose & Squeaky, Bass Ackwards. Television: "Californication," “One Life To Live,” “The?Oblongs,” “Law & Order: SVU,” "Will & Grace," "Friends," "Further Tales of the City," “Matlock,” “Saved By The Bell: The New Class.” Misc: Featured Vocalist for the 50th Anniversary of the Newport Jazz Festival; Four CD’s from Warner Jazz; Lea’s Book of Rules is in it’s 3rd printing with Dell Publishing.

Performances for Out of Iceland are Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 8pm, Sunday evenings at 7pm. (Sunday April 22 at 3pm only!) Walkerspace is located at 46 Walker Street, between Broadway and Church.

Tickets for all seats for all performances are $35 and may be purchased at www.outoficeland.com or by calling 866/811-4111.