THE LAST SMOKER IN AMERICA Begins Performances Tonight, 7/11

The new Off-Broadway musical comedy The Last Smoker in America, with book and lyrics by Tony Award® Nominee Bill Russell (Side Show) and music by Drama Desk Nominee Peter Melnick (Adrift in Macao), with direction by Tony Award® winning producer and director Andy Sandberg (Hair; Gore Vidal's The Best Man), choreography by Tony Award® nominee AC Ciulla (Footloose) and music supervision, arrangements and orchestrations by Fred Lassen (The Gershwin's Porgy & Bess), begins performances tonight, July 11, 2012 upstairs at The Westside Theatre (407 West 43rd Street). Opening Night is Thursday, August 2, 2012.

The four member cast features Drama Desk Nominee Farah Alvin (The Marvelous Wonderettes) as Pam, Natalie Venetia Belcon (Avenue Q) as Phyllis, John Bolton (A Christmas Story, "Gossip Girl") as Ernie, and Jake Boyd (MCC's Carrie) as Jimmy.

In a world where smoking has recently been outlawed and the penalties are growing stricter by the minute, Pam is having an impossible time trying to quit. Her husband Ernie dreams of being a rock star and relentlessly practices his guitar in the basement, while their videogame-addicted son Jimmy listens to so much rap music he thinks he's black. As if Pam isn't pushed to The Edge of reason already, her nosy, anti-smoking zealot neighbor Phyllis is on a mission to catch transgressors mid-puff. Will Pam kick the habit or fight for her right to light up? The Last Smoker in America delivers explosive satire and smoking wit, along with a thrilling rock score that will leave you craving for more.

The musical received a developmental workshop production at the New York Musical Theatre Festival in the fall of 2009, where it extended and played to sold-out audiences. In the fall of 2010, The Last Smoker in America received its world premiere at CATCO (Columbus, Ohio), where additional performances were added due to popular demand.

The creative team includes Charles Corcoran (sets), Michael McDonald (costumes), 2012 Tony Award®-winner Jeff Croiter & Grant Yeager (lights), Bart Fasbender (sound), and Jay Binder (casting). Roger Alan Gindi is the General Manager and Pamela Edington is the Production Stage Manager.

The producers for the New York run of The Last Smoker in America include Andy Sandberg, Whitney Hoagland Edwards, Michael Palitz, and Stephanie Rosenberg.

The Last Smoker in America will play the following performance schedule: Mondays at 8:00 p.m., Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m., Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m., Thursdays & Fridays at 8:00 p.m. and Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. & 8:00 p.m. Please note: Wednesday matinees begin August 1st.

Now on sale, regularly tickets are priced at $85.00 and are available through Telecharge.com, or by calling 212-239-6200, or at The Westside Theatre Box Office (407 West 43rd Street, open daily from 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.).

STUDENT RUSH AND $30 UNDER 30 WITH ID (Terms below)
Student Rush: $21 with full time Student ID (includes $1 Facility Fee) available any time during the day of performance only. Cash only. In person at the Box Office only (open daily from 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.). One ticket per ID. $30 under 30: $30 includes $1 Facility Fee. Tickets may be purchased in advance OR day of performance with valid ID indicating age. Cash and Credit Cards accepted. In person at the Box Office only (open daily from 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.). One ticket per ID. No sales during the half hour before any performance.

Both offers are subject to availability. No refunds or exchanges

For group sales, please call 800-432-7780 or visit the website at Groups.Telecharge.com.

The producers of The Last Smoker in America recently announced they will host the first ever Smoke-In/Smoke-Out on the occasion of the show's opening night.

On one side of this dueling event, smokers wishing to give up the habit will be encouraged to throw away their packs of cigarettes and quit cold turkey. These discarded cigarettes will be collected and delivered to the other side of the event, where nicotine enthusiasts will be invited to puff away on them, guilt-free, among like-minded smokers. All of Broadway's iconic smokers are welcome to participate, on either side of the event, including but not limited to: Vanessa Redgrave, Lauren Bacall, John Larroquette…, as well as anonymous members of the public.

Come join The Last Smoker in America and the first ever Smoke-In/Smoke-Out set for Thursday, August 2nd in front of The Westside Theatre (407 West 43rd Street). Festivities begin at 5:30 p.m.

For more information about the show, visit www.LastSmoker.com.