Roust Theatre Presents 'Two Rooms' At Gene Frankel

Roust Theatre Company presents 20th anniversary production of Lee Blessing's TWO ROOMS -- a penetrating political drama about hostage-taking in the Middle East which, despite the twenty intervening years, remains frighteningly relevant -- with previews to begin May 8 prior to its official opening May 11 at The Gene Frankel Theatre (24 Bond Street) in Manhattan. James Phillip Gates directs.
 
The "two rooms" of the title are a cell where an American hostage, Michael, is being held by Arab terrorists and a room in his home in the United States, in which his wife, Lainie, has removed all the furniture in a desperate attempt to try and share his more-than-year-long ordeal.
 
In Lee Blessing's TWO ROOMS, a single playing space serves as window onto the separate lives of captive and spouse in their attempts to reconnect with one another, and as well as a setting for the wife's conversations with an exploitive, ambitious young reporter in search of an exclusive and a emotionally detached representative from the State Department. Eventually, a frustrated and distraught Lainie, exhausted from "keeping hope alive," talks to the press -- with catastrophic results.
 
TWO ROOMS stars Tori Davis, Garrett Lee Hendricks, Tracy Hostmyer and Joe Osheroff. The production features set design by Casey Smith and lighting design by Kryssy Wright.
 
Director James Phillip Gates James is the Artistic Director of Roust Theatre Company. He directed the company's inaugural production, Bertolt Brecht's politically charged THE PRIVATE LIFE OF THE MASTER RACE, about which the New York Times wrote: "Angry, passionate, bare-bones and uncompromisingly personal and political...James Phillip Gates directs with an eye to simplicity." He is also the Founding Artistic Director of the London-based, award-winning theatre company Dramarama. His work has been seen in theatres, including The National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company, as well as the first New York International Fringe Festival. In New York, he most recently directed Jose Rivera's CLOUD TECTONICS.
 
Lee Blessing is best known for his play A WALK IN THE WOODS which was nominated for a Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize. Other notable works include THIEF RIVER, COBB, THE SCOTTISH PLAY, A BODY OF WATER, and PATIENT A. TWO ROOMS had its world premiere in June, 1988 at La Jolla Playhouse.
 
Roust Theatre Company is dedicated to radical and epoch-making theatre. The company aims to challenge and inspire its audience, and encourage the questioning of the world around us. RTC believes that theatre is much more than entertainment, it has the power to make a difference in the world. Tracy Hostmyer is Executive Director.
 
In addition to regular performances, there will be a benefit performance of TWO ROOMS on Thursday, May 22 at 8pm to benefit IAVA: Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (www.iava.org).
 
Lee Blessing's TWO ROOMS runs May 8-31 at The Gene Frankel Theatre (24 Bond Street, between Lafayette and Bowery). Wednesdays-Saturdays at 8pm; Sundays at 3pm (with the following exceptions: no performance Wednesday, May 28). Tickets are $18, call 212-868-4444 or online at www.SmartTix.com.
 
For additional details, visit www.RoustTC.com