THIS Previews 11/6 At Playwrights Horizons

Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) continues its 2009/2010 Season with the World Premiere of THIS, a new play by Obie Award winner Melissa James Gibson (Suitcase, [sic]).

Directed by Obie Award winner Daniel Aukin ([sic], eight seasons as Artistic Director of Soho Rep), the production will begin previews Friday, November 6, with an Opening Night set for Wednesday, December 2 at 7PM at the theater company's Mainstage Theater (416 West 42nd Street). The limited engagement is currently scheduled to run through Sunday, December 13.

The cast features JuliAnne Nicholson (well-known to TV audiences as Detective Megan Wheeler on "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," Craig Lucas's Stranger at The Vineyard, the recently-opened film Brief Interviews with Hideous Men), Louis Cancelmi (The Singing Forest, Blasted), Obie Award winner Eisa Davis (Passing Strange, seen last in her own play Angela's Mix Tape produced by New Georges and the Hip-Hop Theater Festival), Glenn Fitzgerald (Lortel nomination for Lobby Hero at Playwrights Horizons, Brian Darling on ABC's "Dirty Sexy Money") and Darren Pettie (Spatter Pattern at Playwrights Horizons, Butley on Broadway, the film Taking Woodstock).

In THIS, Jane (JuliAnne Nicholson) is not okay. She's a promising poet without a muse, a single mother without lessons to pass along. Her dating life's a shambles, and her helpful friends are only helping make things more complicated. This bright, witty, un-romantic comedy captures the uncertain steps of a circle of friends backing their way into middle age.

The production will feature scenic design by Louisa Thompson, costume design by Maiko Matsushima, lighting design by Matt Frey, sound design by Matt Tierney and original music by Peter Eldridge. Production Stage Manager is Kasey Ostopchuck.

Playwrights Horizons' season productions are generously supported by The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust. THIS is the recipient of an Edgerton Foundation New American Plays award.

Playwrights Horizons is supported in part by public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, the New York State Assembly and the New York State Senate. In addition, Playwrights Horizons receives major support from Carnegie Corporation of New York, Charina Endowment Fund, Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The Shubert Foundation and Time Warner Inc.

The performance schedule for THIS will be Tuesdays through Fridays at 8PM, Saturdays at 2:30 & 8PM and Sundays at 2:30 & 7:30 PM. There will be additional performances Monday evening, November 23 at 8PM; a Wednesday matinee, November 25 at 2:30 PM; and Monday evening, November 30 at 8PM. Tickets are $65 and will go on sale to the general public starting Wednesday, October 7. Tickets may be purchased online via TicketCentral.com, by phone at (212) 279-4200 (Noon-8pm daily), or in person at the Ticket Central Box Office, 416 West 42nd Street (between Ninth & Tenth Avenues).

LIVEforFIVE, HOTtix and STUDENT RUSH are some of Playwrights Horizons' popular Arts Access initiatives, which allow the institution to reach out to those who may not be able to afford the cost of a full-prIce Theater ticket. This program is supported, in part, by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, McGraw-Hill Companies and the Elroy and Terry Krumholz Foundation.

LIVEforFIVE makes available $5 tickets for the first preview performance of each Playwrights Horizons production through a lottery via the company's website. The LIVEforFIVE lottery for THIS was for tickets to the first preview on Friday, November 6 at 8 PM.

Reflecting Playwrights Horizons' ongoing commitment to making its productions more affordable to younger audiences, the theater company offers HOTtix, $20 rush tickets, subject to availability, day of performance only, starting one hour before showtime to patrons aged 30 and under. Proof of age required. One ticket per person, per purchase. STUDENT RUSH, $15 rush tickets, subject to availability, day of performance only, starting one hour before curtain to full-time graduate and undergraduate students. One ticket per person, per purchase. Valid student ID required.

A special open captioned performance of THIS for theatergoers who are deaf and hard of hearing will be held on the Sunday, November 15 matinee at 2:30 PM. Funding for this program is provided, in part, by the Theodore H. Barth Foundation and the Theatre Development Fund's TAP Plus program in cooperation with the New York State Council on the Arts.

How to order tickets for the open captioned performance:
? Online: log on to www.playwrightshorizons.org
? Phone: call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 (Noon-8pm daily) via Relay Service (800) 421-1220
? TTY: call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 (noon-8pm daily) via Relay Service (800) 662-1220
? By fax: a printable order form may be found online at ww.playwrightshorizons.org/tickets.html

In addition, special Post-Performance Discussions with members of the cast and creative team will take place immediately after the following three performances: Wednesday evening, November 11 at 8PM, Wednesday evening, November 18 at 8PM and Sunday matinee, November 22 at 2:30 PM.

For subscription and ticket information to all Playwrights Horizons productions,
call TICKET CENTRAL at (212) 279-4200, Noon to 8 pm daily,
or purchase online at the Playwrights Horizons website at
www.playwrightshorizons.org

Photo credit: Walter McBride

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