Quirky Holiday Tales Makes NY Premiere With BRIAN DYKSTRA'S HO!, Opens 11/29

The Drilling Company presents the Kitchen Theatre Company's New York Premiere of Brian Dykstra'S HO!. Written and performed by Brian Dykstra, and directed by Margarett Perry, previews begin November 27 at The Drilling Company Theatre. Opening night is slated for Monday, November 29.

Move over Hallmark. Brian Dykstra puts his unique stamp on the holidays in two quirky Christmas tales with Brian Dykstra'S HO! The first half is a Dr.Suess-style piece about the commercialization of Christmas that pits Santa and his merry band of lawyers against those that would dare try to usurp his branding. The second act is the heartwarming story of Sammy, a majestic pine tree from Vermont. Trucked to the big city, Sammy waits on the sidewalk to fulfill his
destiny -- to become the perfect Christmas tree.

Brian Dykstra is a playwright, actor and an HBO "Def Poet." His plays include Clean Alternatives (59E59 Theaters and Edinburgh Festival Fringe where it won the Fringe First Award), Hiding Behind Comets (Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and 29th Street Rep), and A Play on Words (Kitchen Theatre Company, Ithaca and 59E59 Theaters). Brian's plays have been produced internationally at venues including the Pentameters Theater (London), Powerhouse Theatre (L.A.), Zeitgeist
Theatre (Boston) and Birmingham Theatre Festival (Alabama). His solo shows include Cornered & Alone and The Jesus Factor (now on DVD after an Off-Broadway run at Barrow Street Theatre). As an actor, his credits include: The Seagull (American Repertory Theatre), Little Foxes (Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey), Hamlet (Northern Stage), American Absurdum (Menier Chocolate Factory, London), Breaking Legs (Promenade Theatre), Dinner with Friends (Philadelphia Theatre Company) and Twelfth Night (Pittsburgh Public Theatre). Film/TV credits include HBO's "Def Poetry" "Third Watch", "Law & Order" and Comedy Central's "Chappelle's Show". For more info visit www.briandykstra.net

Margarett Perry has directed numerous plays by Brian Dysktra including Clean Alternatives (59E59 Theaters and Edinburgh Festival Fringe where it won the Fringe First Award), A Play On Words (59E59 Theaters), The Jesus Factor (Barrow Street Theater), and Cornered & Alone (The
Triad). Perry was the Producing Artistic Director of Access Theater for six years where she directed and produced numerous plays. She is a regular at The Kitchen Theatre Company in Ithaca, NY where she has directed productions including Rachel Axler's Archaeology, David Wiltse's A Marriage Minuet, Harold Pinter's Old Times, Rachel Lampert's The Soup Comes Last, and Noel Coward's Private Lives. She has also directed at The Hip Hop Theater Festival, Sacramento Theatre Company, Penguin Rep, Memphis' Playhouse on the Square, and Human Race Theatre, where she won two DayTony Awards. In February 2011, she will direct The Body Politic by Richard Abrons at 59E59 Theaters. Film/TV credits include "The Jesus Factor" (DVD), "Wet" (Houston Film Festival Remi Award for Direction) and "The King & Me" (ABC-TV pilot). She is an Artistic Fellow at The Lark Play Development Center where she produced the Playwrights' Workshop with Arthur Kopit. For more info visit www.margarettperry.com

THE DRILLING COMPANY is best known for Shakespeare in the Parking Lot, now going into its 20th year. Other world premiere plays produced by TDC include Over the Line by P.Seth Bauer, Atomic Farm Girl by C.Denby Swanson, Mutant Sex Party by Edward Manning, Dealers by Neil Olson, Windows on the World by Peter Killy, and Big Apples by Stephen Bittrich. TDC has also commissioned over 225 new short plays (over a dozen by Brian Dykstra); over 30 have been published and many have been recognized with awards and nominations including recognition from the Pulitzer Prize Committee, the Heidemann Award and the New York Innovative Theatre Awards. Other recent premiere short plays include Reservoir by Eric Henry Sanders, El Viaje De Be Trice by Andrea Moon, and Hoe of the Great Pecan by Stephen Bittrich and Bird Brain by
Vern Theissen. TDC is supported by the The Department of Cultural Affairs, New York State Arts s Council and The Lower Manhattna Cultural Council. For more info visit www.drillingcompany.org

Now in its 20th Season THE KITCHEN THEATRE COMPANY, has just moved into a completely renovated building in Ithaca, NY. Led by Artistic Director Rachel Lampert, the KTC produces a lively mix of recent plays, plays in development and world premieres. The theater receives support from NYSCA and the Shubert Foundation. The KTC has commissioned numerous world premieres including The Drunken City by Adam Bock, Archaeology by Rachel Axler, and Media Madness by Darian Dauchan. The KTC's production of The Soup Comes Last by Rachel Lampert was produced at 59E59 Theaters in 2004. The KTC has had an active relationship with Brian Dykstra, Margarett Perry and the Kitchen Theatre Company since 2005, co-presenting shows including Strangerhorse, The Two of You, The Jesus Factor, A Play on Words and Brian Dykstra'S HO! For more info visit www.kitchentheatre.org

Brian Dykstra'S HO! runs November 27 - December 19, Monday & Wednesday - Saturday at 7:30pm, Sundays at 3pm. (Please note: No shows Dec. 1-4 or 6-11). The Drilling Company Theatre is located at 236 West 78th Street, between Broadway & Amsterdam (accessible from the 1 train to 79th Street.) Running time: 75 minutes. Tickets are $25 at 866-811-4111 or www.TheaterMania.com.

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