Playwrights Horizons Extends Lucas Hnath's THE CHRISTIANS

Due to critical acclaim and popular demand, Playwrights Horizons and Center Theatre Group have announced an extension of their New York premiere co-production of The Christians, a new play by Lucas Hnath (A Public Reading of an Unproduced Screenplay About the Death of Walt Disney, Red Speedo, Isaac's Eye, Death Tax). Directed by Obie Award winner Les Waters (Doris to Darlene at PH; 10 Out of 12; In the Next Room, or the vibrator play; Big Love; eurydice), the play is the opening production of the Playwrights Horizons 2015/2016 Season.

Originally set to play a limited engagement through Sunday, October 11, The Christians has extended two weeks to Sunday, October 25 at Playwrights Horizons' Mainstage Theater (416 West 42nd Street). The production began previews Friday, August 28 and had its official opening Thursday, September 17.

Charles Isherwood of The New York Times named The Christians a Critics Pick, praising it as, "The first important new play of the season. Lucas Hnath is one of the freshest playwriting voices to emerge in the past five years. Ingeniously staged by Les Waters, this terrific play about the mystery of faith is mesmerizing." Jesse Green of New York Magazine also hailed The Christians, calling it "Extraordinary. Lucas Hnath dares us to see anti-religious prejudice as just another form of faith." Elisabeth Vincentelli of The New York Post praised it as, "Deeply affecting and emotionally devastating. A white-knuckled drama about a theological battle. This is a production we can believe in." In the Daily News, Joe Dziemianowicz called it, "A little bit of Heaven with a chorus whose voices blend in harmonies as bright as their choir robes!" And Alexis Soloski in The Guardian declared, "Whether or not you believe in God, you should believe in Lucas Hnath. A clever, searching and elusively profound work. Amen to that!

Featured in the "Superbly acted" (The New York Times) production are Emily Donahoe (33 Variations on Broadway; Queens Boulevard (the musical), Apparition Off-Broadway; The Christians at Humana; "Homeland"), Andrew Garman (Salome on Broadway; Ashville, Burning, Uncle Vanya, Hamlet Off-Broadway; The Christians at Humana), Philip Kerr (The End of the Day at PH; A Time to Kill, Macbeth, Tiny Alice on Broadway; As You Like It Off-Broadway; opposite Dame Judith Anderson's Hamlet at Carnegie Hall), Larry Powell (While I Yet Live, Broke-ology Off-Broadway; The Christians at Humana) and Linda Powell (On Golden Pond, Wilder Wilder Wilder on Broadway; Omnium Gatherum, Jar the Floor, Jitney Off-Broadway; The Christians at Humana; "The Good Wife").

The production also features a rotating twenty-person choir, drawing singers from all five boroughs.

Ten years ago, Pastor Paul's (Mr. Garman) church was a modest storefront. Now it houses thousands, with a coffee shop in the lobby and a baptismal font as big as a swimming pool. But Paul is about to preach a sermon that will shake the foundation of his congregation's beliefs. Backed by a live choir, The Christians is both epic and unexpectedly intimate, an unflinching look at faith in America - and its power to unite or divide.

The production features scenic design by Dane Laffrey, costume design by Connie Furr Soloman, lighting design by Tony Award nominee Ben Stanton and sound design by Jake Rodriguez. Music Supervisor is David Dabbon, and Production Stage Manager is Marisa Levy.

Following the New York run, The Christians will be presented by Center Theatre Group in its Los Angeles premiere at The Mark Taper Forum from December 2, 2015 through January 10, 2016, with an Opening Night of December 13.

THE CHRISTIANS had its world premiere in the 2014 Humana Festival of New American Plays at Actors Theatre of Louisville (Louisville, KY) in March 2014, also directed by Mr. Waters.

The performance schedule for The Christians is Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7PM, Thursdays and Fridays at 8PM, Saturdays at 2:30 PM & 8PM and Sundays at 2:30 PM & 7:30 PM.

Single tickets, $75-95, may be purchased online via www.TicketCentral.com and www.Facebook.com, by phone at (212) 279-4200 (Noon-8PM daily) and in person at the Ticket Central Box Office, 416 West 42nd Street (between Ninth & Tenth Avenues).

Through the ticketing program FIRST ROW SUNDAYS, Playwrights Horizons makes available front row tickets for all Sunday evening performances. Tickets, $25 each, will be available for those age 30 years and younger and can be purchased in advance online via www.PHnyc.org, by phone at (212) 279-4200 (Noon-8pm daily), or in person at the Ticket Central Box Office, 416 West 42nd Street (between Ninth & Tenth Avenues). Tickets are limited to one per customer and are subject to availability. Purchased tickets for FIRST ROW SUNDAYS can be picked up one hour before curtain on the day of the performance, with proof of age required at the door.

Also reflecting Playwrights Horizons' ongoing commitment to making its productions more affordable to younger audiences, the theater company offers HOTtix, $30 rush tickets, subject to availability, day of performance only, starting one hour before showtime to patrons aged 30 and under. Proof of age required. One ticket per person, per purchase. Cash only.

FIRST ROW SUNDAYS and HOTtix are two of Playwrights Horizons' popular Arts Access initiatives, which allow the institution to reach out to those who may not be able to afford the cost of a full-price theater ticket. This program is supported, in part, by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, McGraw Hill Financial and an Anonymous Individual Donor.

Following The Christians, the 2015/2016 Season will continue with HIR, the New York premiere of a new play by Obie Award winner Taylor Mac, directed by Niegel Smith; 2015 Pulitzer Prize finalist MARJORIE PRIME, the New York premiere of a Playwrights Horizons commission by Jordan Harrison, directed by Obie Award winner Anne Kauffman; FAMILIAR, the New York premiere of a new play by Danai Gurira, directed by Rebecca Taichman; ANTLIA PNEUMATICA, the world premiere of a Playwrights Horizons commission by Anne Washburn, directed by two-time Obie Award winner Ken Rus Schmoll; and conclude with INDIAN SUMMER, the world premiere of a Playwrights Horizons commission by Gregory S. Moss, directed by Carolyn Cantor.

Subscription packages to Playwrights Horizons' 2015/2016 Season are now available: 6-show Subscription package ($270, four Mainstage and two Peter Jay Sharp Theater productions); FlexPass (4+ tickets, $50 per ticket); and Membership ($60 membership fee + one ticket at $45 or less for each show, as desired). The company will continue to offer 30&Under Membership (no upfront membership fee + one $25 ticket for each show, as desired); and Student Membership (no upfront membership fee + one $15 ticket for each show, as desired). In addition to discounts on all season productions, subscribers receive priority booking and seating, ticket exchange privileges, parking and dining discounts, and exclusive mailings of Playwrights Horizons bulletins. Packages are available at www.PHnyc.org now.

Patron Program Memberships begin at $1,500 (all but $550 is tax-deductible) and include two reserved house seats and personalized concierge service to all six Playwrights Horizons productions, and as well as a variety of exclusive benefits including invitations to attend special events with artists, staff and board members. Complete benefit list at www.PHnyc.org.

Playwrights Horizons' season productions are generously supported in part by The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

Playwrights Horizons is supported in part by public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. In addition, Playwrights Horizons receives major support from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, the Peter Jay Sharp Foundation and the Time Warner Foundation.