Rattlestick to Premiere Adam Rapp's 'American Sligo'

Rattlestick Playwrights Theater opens its 13th season with the World Premiere of American Sligo, described as "a darkly humorous saga about the quintessential American family," written and directed by Adam Rapp.  Performances begin on Wednesday, September 12th, 2007.  Opening night is Monday, September 24th at 7pm.  The show will run through Sunday, October 14th, 2007.

"In Mr. Rapp's new play, Art 'Crazy Train' Sligo (Slee-go), all-star wrestling legend, is about to retire.  His two sons, his sister-in-law, his greatest fan and a few unexpected guests gather on the eve of his final match for his last supper, but things just can't seem to stop going wrong in the Sligo home," state press notes.

The cast of American Sligo includes Guy Boyd (Stone Cold Dead Serious, Betty's Summer Vacation), Marylouise Burke (Fuddy Meers, Kimberly Akimbo), Michael Chernus (Mr. Marmalade, Essential Self-Defense), Emily Cass McDonnell (Cagelove, Indoor/Outdoor), Megan Mostyn-Brown (Playwrights - The Secret Lives of Losers, In The Kitchen), Paul Sparks (Blackbird, Orange Flower Water) and Matthew Stadelmann (Drug Buddy, Stone Cold Dead Serious).   

His plays include Nocturne (A.R.T., Off-Broadway at NYTW), Ghosts in the Cottonwoods (Victory Gardens; The Arcola, London), Animals and Plants (A.R.T.), Blackbird (The Bush, London; Pittsburgh City Theatre; Off-Broadway with Edge Theater), Stone Cold Dead Serious (A.R.T., Off-Broadway with Edge Theater), Finer Noble Gases (26th Annual Humana Festival of New American Plays, Off-Broadway at Rattlestick, 2006 Edinburgh Fringe Festival), Faster (Off-Broadway at Rattlestick), Trueblinka (Off-Broadway at the Maverick Theater), Dreams of the Salthorse (Encore, S.F.), Gompers (Pittsburgh City Theatre; The Arcola, London), Red Light Winter (Steppenwolf, Off-Broadway with Scott Rudin Productions at The Barrow Street Theater), and Essential Self-Defense (Playwrights Horizons).  He is also a director and filmmaker, with his second feature, Blackbird, receiving its world premiere later this year. 

The creative team is comprised of John McDermott (sets), Ben Stanton (lights), Daphne Javitch (costumes), and Eric Shim (sound).  Dominic D'Andrea is Assistant Director, Jess Johnston is Production Stage Manager and Zac Chandler is Assistant Stage Manager.

American Sligo will have the following performance schedule: Tuesday Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 5pm. Tickets are $40.00 and are available through SmartTix (212-868-4444) or www.smarttix.com. Rattlestick Playwrights Theater is located at 224 Waverly Place (off Seventh Avenue South between West 11th & Perry Streets).

Visit www.rattlestick.org for more information.

Photo of Adam Rapp by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.