THE BANANA MONOLOGUES Opens Off Broadway Tonight

Gregory Taft Gerard is presenting "The Banana Monologues" Off Broadway, at the Acorn Theatre (Theatre Row) 410 West 42nd Street. The play Opens tonight - Monday, June 24th at 7:00 pm. The 80-minute relationship comedy stars John R. Brennan. It is directed by Debra Whitfield. The play is written by John R. Brennan, Jason C. Cooper and Mary Cimino. Scenic Design is by Roman Tatarowicz and the Lighting Design is by Deborah Constantine.

"The Banana Monologues" is a sexy comedy inspired by a true love story about a man, a woman, and his "banana," Sergeant Johnson. When the layers of the relationship are peeled back, Gus tries to split from his girlfriend Alexis, but the Sergeant stands firm. How should one deal with this universal conflict?

"The Banana Monologues" began at the Piccolo Spoleto Fringe Festival in Charleston, SC. From there, the play has been performed in festivals throughout the US and Canada, where it has been nominated for "Best Show" and "Best Actor".

John R. Brennan is a performer and comedy writer. Before moving to New York, he lived in Charleston, South Carolina, where he was a member of Theatre 99, an improv comedy theatre. In addition to this show, his improv troupe, The Have Nots! Tour Team, toured the Fringe Festivals in Vancouver,Orlando, and the Los Angeles Comedy Festival. He studied with Second City (Chicago) and graduated from the world famous Uprights Citizens Brigade Theatre.

Debra Whitfield (Director/Dramaturg) is a New York City based director, actress and writer. She has worked at The Mint Theater, Florida Studio Theatre, Virginia Stage Company, Bristol Riverside Theatre, Dorset Theatre Festival, Two River Theater Company and the Depot Theatre, among others. Her production of Trifles won the Beaux Arts Da Vinci Award for Best Revival in New York. Debra also helmed In The Belly Of The Beast at Florida Studio Theatre (winner of Best Play - Sarasota Magazine). She is an Associate Producer of the new Off-Broadway musical, National Pastime and is on the development team for a new musical version of Lysistrata, which is headed for Broadway. Debra is a founding member and Co-Artistic Director of Algonquin Theater Productions and is on the Board of Directors for The Shaw Project.

Jason C. Cooper (Co-Playwright/Author) is the author (a.k.a Gus Weiderman) of the book "Tales From The Relationship" that inspired this show. He performs regularly at Theatre 99 (Charleston, SC) as Johnny Dregg, one half of the rock improv group, Doppelganger. He also plays guitar/keyboards in a popular 80's cover band Weird Science. In his spare time, he is a pharmacist. Mary Cimino (Co-Playwright) has been working on this show from the beginning. She has written many plays, and her favorite is Lilita, which was critically acclaimed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Piccolo Spoleto Fringe Festival and the New York Fringe Festival. She also writes shows which have been designed for the curriculum and is a playwright, director and artist-in-residence for the SC Arts Commission.

Gregory Taft Gerard (Producer) has many successful shows to his credit. In addition to his involvement with I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, Mr. Gerard associate produced the Off-Broadway musical comedy, The Thing About Men, and backed the successful Broadway musical, All Shook Up.

Regular performances will be: Monday 8pm; Thursday 8pm; Friday 8pm; Saturday 7pm &10pm; and Sunday 3pm & 7pm. There will be a special show at 8pm on Wednesday 7/3 and No show on Thursday, July 4th. Tickets are $69.95 and are available at Tele-Charge 212 239-6200 or 800 447-7400 and on line here.