THE ELEPHANT IN EVERY ROOM I ENTER Continues Post-Show Talks Tonight at La MaMa

THE ELEPHANT IN EVERY ROOM I ENTER, the strikingly intimate solo work created by Gardiner Comfort and Kel Haney, in which Mr. Comfort shares the challenges of a working actor living with Tourette Syndrome, have announced a series of post-performance discussions with medical experts and Adults Living with Tourette's to follow select performances of the show.

Performances continue through Saturday, October 31 at La MaMa - First Floor Theatre (74a East 4th Street - between Bowery and 2nd Avenue).

In THE ELEPHANT IN EVERY ROOM I ENTER, using an erratic and energetic performance style (a nod to Tourette's itself), and evocative details of his week attending the "Tourette Syndrome Association National Conference" in Washington, D.C., Gardiner Comfort shares his life as an actor with this neurological disorder and discovers, for the first time in his life, how he can be himself.

The schedule of post-performance discussions is:

Tonight, October 28 (immediately following the 7:30 pm performance)

AN IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION ON THE SOCIAL STIGMA OF TOURETTE SYNDROME WITH ELANA OPPENHEIM, JONATHAN FRIED, CHELSEA WHITE AND GARDINER COMFORT

Gardiner Comfort will be joined by three Adults Living with Tourette's who will share their thoughts on how they cope with the social aspects of having the rare neurological disease.

Elana Oppenheim was diagnosed with TS at the age of 6, which included complex and motor tics. She obtained her B.A. from SUNY Buffalo in 2009 and her Masters of Social Work in 2012. Elana has traveled extensively; in Europe and South America. She is now pursuing a Master's in Higher Education Administration at CUNY Baruch with the goal of working with students with disabilities.

Jonathan Fried was diagnosed at 11 with TS that included impulsive behavior, motor and vocal tics. The vocal tics subsided in his 20s. He's worked in computers, taught high school, and is now an accountant.

Chelsea White is a TV producer, writer, host and comedian. She was diagnosed with Tourette at age 4 and has been a Board Member of the Tourette Association's NYC Chapter since 2007.

The talk-backs are free with the purchase of a ticket to THE ELEPHANT IN EVERY ROOM I ENTER. For those who have already seen the show but would like to attend one of these events, please call La MaMa at (646) 430-5374 to make a reservation. Seating is limited and subject to availability.

The performance schedule for THE ELEPHANT IN EVERY ROOM I ENTER is: Thurs, Fri. & Sat. @ 7:30pm. There will be additional performances on Sunday, 10/18 @ 2:30pm,Monday, 10/19 @ 7:30 and Wednesday, 10/28 @ 7:30pm. Tickets are $18 ($13 students/seniors) and are available online at www.lamama.org or by calling 646-430-5374. La MaMa makes ten tickets available to every performance for only $10 each. These tickets are available online, by phone or at the box office (in advance only).

BIOGRAPHIES:

Gardiner Comfort is an actor and writer who was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome when he was 7. He grew up in a loft in Tribeca amidst the theatre and art scenes of the 80s and 90s. THE ELEPHANT IN EVERY ROOM I ENTER was developed with Kel Haney in Mabou Mines' Resident Artist Project. Acting and writing credits: Original solo show You're Not Tough, (HERE Arts Center, Dixon Place - directed by Kel Haney), Julius Caesar (ART, multiple world tours), Cardenio (ART, u/s), The Zero Hour (13P), REENTRY (American Records), A Parsifal (PS122), Red Beads (Mabou Mines), Henry IV Part 1 (BAM, Hebbel Theatre - Berlin), Funeral Games (The Public - workshop), Be The Death Of Me (The Civilians - workshop). MFA from ART. www.gardinercomfort.com

Kel Haney Also with Gardiner Comfort: You're Not Tough (HERE, Dixon Place). Recent directing credits include: Vickie Ramirez's Glenburn 12WP (Summer Shorts/59E59), Jonathan Caren's The Recommendation (The Flea), Kate Cortesi's Great Kills; James Christy's At Liberty Hall (Premiere Stages), Melisa Annis' United Front (Primary Stages/Fordham), and David Auburn's Fifth Planet (Lincoln Center Education). She has directed and developed new work at Ars Nova, Atlantic Theater Company, Directors Company, Cherry Lane, Keen Company, LAByrinth Theater Company, The Lark, Ma-Yi, Naked Angels, New Dramatists, New Georges, NY Fringe Festival, Partial Comfort Productions, Rattlestick, Rising Phoenix Rep, Studio 42, Vampire Cowboys, Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater, Westport Country Playhouse, Williamstown & the 52nd Street Project. Also: Mabou Mines Residency, Manhattan Theatre Club Directing Fellow, Lincoln Center Directors Lab, Old Vic/New Voices Exchange Program and a member of Ensemble Studio Theatre. I Am Them, a series of short films directed by Ms. Haney, will be released later this year. www.kelhaney.com @kelhaney

An integral part of New York City's cultural landscape, La MaMa has a worldwide reputation for producing daring work in theatre, dance, performance art, and music that defies form and transcends boundaries of language, race, and culture. Founded in 1961 by theatre pioneer and legend Ellen Stewart, La MaMa is a global organization with creative partners and dedicated audiences around the world. La MaMa presents an average of 60-70 productions annually, most of which are world premieres. To date, over 3,500 productions have been presented at La MaMa with artists from more than 70 nations.

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