Photo Preview: Opening Night Of The Amoralists' HAPPY IN THE POORHOUSE

Happy In The Poorhouse began performances on March 11 and continues through April 5 in a limited engagement. Shows take place on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays at 8pm and Sundays at 5pm. The official opening was March 13. Tickets are $40 for adults and $20 for students and can be purchased online at http://www.Theatre80.org or by calling 212-388-0388. Running time is 2 hours including one intermission. Capacity is 160 seats. Trains: R, W to 8th St, 6 to Astor Place, F, V to 2nd Ave or L to 1st Ave.

Paulie "The Pug" is a Coney Island dreamer...just one MMA fight away from the big time. If only he could keep his wife from screwing her ex-husband, his brother-in-law from going to the slammer, and his best friend from taking a bite out of his neck, he'd be on top of the world. A comedy full of weak wrists and strong hearts, Happy In The Poorhouse is an unsanitized story of love and sex that will make you think twice about not pulling out!

The Amoralists is a theatre company that produces work with no moral judgment by new and emerging playwrights. Dedicated to an honest expression of the American condition, their actor-driven ensemble explores complex characters of moral ambiguity. They seek to initiate a dialogue between artists and audience, and put theatre at the heart of our community. Rollicking, rebellious and raw, their work will go home with you...Boom!

Derek Ahonen is the resident playwright of The Amoralists Theatre Company. His plays with The Amoralists include The Pied Pipers of the Lower East Side, The Hey You Monster Part One: Pokin The Bears In A Zoo and Part Two: Bring Us The Head Of Your Daughter (both published by United Stages) and While Chasing The Fantastic. Martin Denton of NYTheatre.com says "His talent as a playwright is very impressive...in the manner of Sam Shepard or Tracy Letts (though laced throughout with Ahonen's trademark social consciousness, which distinguishes this young playwright from his antecedents)."

The cast includes William Apps, Selene Beretta, James Kautz, Nick Lawson, Sarah Lemp, Morton Matthews, Patrick McDaniel, Rochelle Mikulich, Matthew Pilieci, Mark Riccadonna and Meghan Ritchie. The design and production team consists of Alfred Shatz (Set Design), Jeremy Pape (Lighting Design), Ricky Lang (Costume Design), The Hernandez Brothers (Sound Design), Alfred Shatz (Fight Choreography), Dan Lockhart (Assistant Director), Judy Merrick (Stage Manager) and Larry Cobra (Spiritual Advisor).

The Amoralists is a critically acclaimed theatre company that was formed in 2006 by actors James Kautz and Matthew Pilieci, and playwright/director Derek Ahonen on a car ride to Las Vegas. With a goal of winning $50,000 to start their company they lost $5,000 and founded it regardless. Through its first three seasons The Amoralists have produced six original full-length plays to rave reviews and sold out houses. In 2009, Meghan Ritchie and Matthew Fraley joined the Amoralists family as producing partners. That summer, their play, The Pied Pipers of the Lower East Side, ran from June 2 to October 5, extending two times before transferring successfully to an Off Broadway run. The play was named to numerous 2009 Top Ten Lists, including Elisabeth Vincentelli's of The New York Post and Adam Feldman's of TimeOut New York. Amoralists' plays are published and available at Barnes and Noble, The Drama Bookshop and Amazon.com.

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