THE OLD MASTERS Begins at The Flea Next Month

The Flea will present the New York Premiere of THE OLD MASTERS. After a run at the First Look Repertory of New Work at Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago, Sam Marks' dark examination of marriage comes to The Flea. It will be directed by Resident Director Brandon Stock. Previews begin May 27 with opening night set for June 7.

In THE OLD MASTERS, artist turned teacher and expectant father Ben Schmitt has found himself on the verge of the suburban life. Upon serendipitously discovering an old friend's paintings -- an old friend that mysteriously disappeared 4 months ago -- he shares them with his colleagues. As the art world falls under the spell of his friend's work and life story, Ben is left to wonder: what about me?

The production stars three Bats that were most recently seen in The Mysteries: Adelind Horan, Rory Kulz, and Alesandra Nahodil. Understudies include Alex Coelho, Anna Dart, and Rachel Yong. The creative team includes set design by Andrew Diaz (Smoke, The Feast), lighting design by Jonathan Cottle (White Hot, Job), costume design by Travis Alexandra Boatwright (The Feast), and props by Christina Pitter (The Feast).

Sam Marks' play The Delling Shore received its world premiere at the 2013 Humana Festival at Actors Theatre of Louisville and was developed through the Sundance Institute's 2011 Theatre Lab. Sam's play The Old Masters was produced in Steppenwolf's First Look Repertory of New Work and directed by Daniel Aukin. His play Brack's Last Bachelor Party received its world premiere from Babel Theatre Project at 59E59 Theaters. Sam received his Off-Broadway debut with The Jock at Studio Dante, directed by Sam Gold. Sam was chosen as one of "50 Playwrights to Watch" by The Dramatist Magazine, and his other New York productions include Nelson; The Bigger Man; and Craft (The Flea). Additionally, Sam's plays have been workshopped and read at Arena Stage, the Atlantic Theater, Manhattan Theater Club, New York Theater Workshop, Playwrights Horizons, Portland Center Stage, The Public, Rattlestick Theater, and The Vineyard, among others. Sam is currently a resident playwright at the Huntington Theatre in Boston. Sam is also developing a project at HBO with Steve Buscemi and Stanley Tucci producing. He recently created and developed a TV series in collaboration with CBS studios, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Cooper's Town Productions. Sam has taught playwriting and screenwriting at Brown University, Harvard, Drew University, and RIT.

Brandon Stock is from Fresno, California. He received his BA from Loyola University, Chicago and MFA in directing from the Actors Studio Drama School. He has directed, designed, stage-managed, and worked electrics in New York City. He has worked on productions for Outside Inside Theater Company, Manhattan Repertory Theater, and FringeNYC.

The Flea Resident Director Program is an intensive program that invites young directors to work in support of The Flea's season under the supervision of Artistic Director Jim Simpson. Residents direct readings and workshops with The Bats throughout the season with the goal of a full production. Resident director productions include My Daughter Keeps Our Hammer, Mary-Kate Olsen is in Love, The Recommendation, a cautionary tail, White Hot, I Hate Mexicans, Job, The Wundelsteipen, The Electric Lighthouse, American Sexy, Just Cause and Smoke.

The Bats are the resident acting company members of The Flea Theater. Each year over a thousand actors audition for a place in this unique company. The Bats perform in extended runs of challenging classic and new plays. The Bats have recently appeared in premieres by A.R. Gurney, Will Eno, Adam Rapp, Beau Willimon, Mac Wellman, Elizabeth Swados, Thomas Bradshaw, Itamar Moses, Sheila Callaghan, Julian Sheppard, Ken Urban, Tommy Smith, Jonathan Reynolds, Trista Baldwin, Laurel Haines, Qui Nguyen, Sean Graney, and Amy Freed.

The Flea Theater, under Artistic Director Jim Simpson and Producing Director Carol Ostrow, is one of New York's leading off-off-Broadway companies. Winner of a Special Drama Desk Award for outstanding achievement, Obie Awards and an Otto for political theater, The Flea has presented over 100 plays and numerous dance and live music performances since its inception in 1996. Past productions include the premieres by Thomas Bradshaw, Erin Courtney, Bathsheba Doran, Will Eno, Amy Freed, Sean Graney, A.R. Gurney, Nick Jones, Hamish Linklater, Itamar Moses, Anne Nelson, Qui Nguyen, Adam Rapp, Roger Rosenblatt, Elizabeth Swados, and Mac Wellman. Recent successes include Drama Desk nominated She Kills Monsters, These Seven Sicknesses and Restoration Comedy, The Mysteries and eight World Premieres by A.R. Gurney including the WSJ Best New Play of 2013, Family Furniture.

THE OLD MASTERS runs May 27 - June 28, Monday through Saturday at 9pm and Sunday at 7pm. (Note: no performances June 1,2,3,8,9,16,19,22-26.) Tickets are $15-$35 with lowest priced tickets available on a first-come, first-served basis. The Flea Theater is located at 41 White Street between Church and Broadway, three blocks south of Canal, close to the A/C/E, N/R/Q, 6, J/M/Z and 1 subway lines. Purchase tickets by calling 212-352-3101 or online at www.theflea.org.

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