Senator Joseph Carraro's CONVERSATIONS WITH AN AVERAGE JOE Heads Off-Broadway

The world premiere of Conversations with an Average Joe, a new play written by Senator Joseph Carraro, will begin performances Off-Broadway on September 3, 2016.

Centering on corrupt politicians, income inequality, government and corporations, race relations, the environment, and the security of the country, Conversations with an Average Joe is a timely, engaging town hall-type gathering that examines the political turmoil surrounding the current election. Based on the real-life stories of average Joes and Janes the Senator has encountered throughout his 24 year career, the play examines injustice at the hands of big government and a broken political system. Senator Carraro's take no prisoners approach is grounded in his background as someone who has uniquely served in the Senate, retiring as an Independent.

"These injustices ring true to most Americans and the play has caught the attention of the theater community because it resonates, especially during one of the most bizarre presidential elections ever," said Carraro. "My role as an insider from both sides of the aisle has allowed me to tell these stories from the many different perspectives and concerns of those 'real Americans' we hear so much about who lack a voice, and to offer solutions to the many problems facing our country."

Carraro served as New Mexico State Senator from 1985 - 2009. He was Executive Member of the National Energy Council and a ranking member who visited every state as chairman and member of national committees with expertise in the issues of finance, education, energy, environment, trade and international relations, and was nominated as Ambassador to Venezuela. With Jack Kemp, he championed development of inner cities and tax reform.

Carraro is a registered Independent with an MBA and a PhD, a stockbroker and financial analyst who has owned restaurants, an author, lecturer, and playwright, and a professor of Human Behavior and Professional Ethics who championed the causes of the developmentally disabled. He was Chair of a multi-billion dollar Investment Oversight Committee and he founded Project Share, a private homeless feeding program. He is a former acquaintance of Ronald Reagan who encouraged him to run for elected office and an appointee of the Clinton administration on the Commission for Disabled Americans.

Conversations with an Average Joe will be directed by Charlie Mount. Mount directed the original production of Acting - First Six Lessons with Beau Bridges and the Ovation Award-nominated Waiting For Lefty. He also directed Betty Garrett in her last play, Waiting in the Wings. As a producer, he presented the Los Angeles premiere of Rod Serling's Requiem for a Heavyweight, collaborated with Ray Bradbury's Pandemonium Theatre Company in staging Falling Upward, presented The Women of Spoon River with Lee Meriwther, mounted a production of The Lion in Winter with Jim Beaver, and produced Jim Beaver's own play, Verdigris. As a playwright, he has seen his works produced in New York and in L.A.

The cast of Conversations with an Average Joe will feature PAT HENNESSEY, KEIRA WESLEY-BUSHER, GREGORY COLE, SARA GIACOMINI, RICHARD YE, JEFF ALPERT, LARA GAD, NAOMI DISTA, CHRIS LIU, KIMBERLY INGRAM, JACKIE SCHIFFER, SAMANTHA DISNEY, MARYE DEAN, ESQ, NEYSA LOZANO, JONATHAN VILLANEUVA, Joseph RothSCHILD, QIANNA BROOKS, FRANK MARSICO and MAUREEN GERMAIN.

Performances will be held on Wednesdays at 8pm and Saturdays at 5pm at Off-Broadway's The Theater Center. Tickets ($59.50) are available by visiting Ticketmaster.com or calling (212) 921-7862. The Theater Center is located at 1627 Broadway at 50th Street.

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