The Amoralists Announce World Premiere of THE BAD AND THE BETTER Directed by Daniel Aukin for 6/14 - 7/21

The Amoralists have announced the World Premiere of The Bad and the Better, written by Derek Ahonen, directed by Obie Award winner Daniel Aukin and featuring The Amoralists acting ensemble. The acclaimed downtown theater company moves uptown for a 6-week Off-Broadway run from June 14 – July 21, 2012 at The Peter Jay Sharp Theater, located at 416 West 42 Street between 9 and 10 Avenues in New York City. Previews begin June 14 for a June 19 opening.

The Bad and the Better is a riveting detective noir centered around the Lang brothers. One with everything to lose. One with everything to prove. Both in too deep. Set in the basements, balconies and bars where secrets are whispered and revealed, join a group of local anarchists, law enforcement officials and political power players. All are waging war: against injustice, corruption and, ultimately, the people they love the most. A cautionary tale about the hypocrisy of extreme principles, The Bad and the Better explores the dangers of maintaining loyalty and protecting your family, whoever they are, at any cost. When it comes to the bad and the better, what's the difference?

The cast is comprised of 28 actors and features Amoralists ensemble members ByRon Anthony (HotelMotel), William Apps (Happy in the Poorhouse, The Hallway Trilogy), Selene Beretta (Happy in the Poorhouse), James Kautz (The Pied Pipers of the Lower East Side, Dedalus Lounge, The Hallway Trilogy), Nick Lawson (The Pied Pipers of the Lower East Side, Happy in the Poorhouse), Sarah Lemp (The Pied Pipers of the Lower East Side, The Hallway Trilogy), Sarah Roy (Bring Us the Head of Your Daughter), Anna Stromberg (HotelMotel), Jordan Tisdale (HotelMotel) and Vanessa Vache (HotelMotel). The cast also includes first time Amoralists actors Clyde Baldo ("The Sopranos"), Reuben Barsky, Penny Bittone, Regina Blandon (Lead role of Bibi in Mexican sitcom "La familia P. Luche"), Ugo Chukwu (These Seven Sicknesses), Wade Dunham, Edgar Eguia (She Kills Monsters), Rebeca Fong, Chris Lanceley (The Day Everything Changes Between Us at Cannes), David Lanson, Judy Merrick, David Nash, Cassandra Paras, James Rees, Lucas Seigal, Dan Stern, Kelley Swindall and Chris Wharton.

The creative team includes Alfred Schatz (Set Design), Natalie Robin (Lighting Design), Philip Carluzzo (Sound Design), Moria Clinton (Costume Design), Matthew Pilieci (Assistant Director), Whitney Dearden (Stage Manager), Judy Merrick (Prop Master) and Danica Novgorodoff (Artwork). The production team consists of Kelcie Beene (Producer), Anthony Francavilla (General Manager), Zachary Laks (Associate General Manager), Sean Bauer (Director of Production), Caroline Hendrix (Director of Development) and Seena Hodges (Director of Marketing).

Derek Ahonen is the Resident Playwright, Co-founder and Associate Artistic Director of the award-winning Amoralists Theatre Company. Ahonen is the author of the full-length plays Like the Fog to the Sun, Pink Knees on Pale Skin, Happy in the Poorhouse, The Pied Pipers of the Lower East Side, Amerissiah, Pokin' the Bears in a Zoo, Bring Us the Head of Your Daughter and While Chasing the Fantastic.

Daniel Aukin most recently directed Amy Herzog's critically lauded 4000 Miles at Lincoln Center. His selected credits include Marius von Mayenburg's The Ugly One at Soho Rep, Melissa James Gibson's This at Playwrights Horizons and for Center Theater Group, and Adam Rapp's Paraffin at Rattlestick. His other credits include Melissa James Gibson's [sic] (OBIE Award for Direction), Mark Schultz's Everything Will Be Different, Quincy Long's The Year of The Baby, Melissa James Gibson's Suitcase and Brooklyn Bridge, Mac Wellman's Cat's-Paw and Maria Irene Fornes' Molly's Dream (OBIE Award), all world premieres. He also directed Itamar Moses' Back Back Back, Elmer Rice's The Adding Machine and Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge. His work has been seen at Center Theater Group, Rattlestick, Lincoln Center, The La Jolla Playhouse, The Guthrie, Arena Stage, The Children's Theater of Minneapolis, Manhattan Theater Club, Playwrights Horizons and Woolly Mammoth. From 1998-2006 Daniel was Artistic Director of Soho Rep where he developed, produced and occasionally, directed plays by many of the country's most iconoclastic playwrights and theater-makers including Richard Maxwell, Adam Bock, The Flying Machine, Anne Washburn, Big Art Group and Young Jean Lee.

The Amoralists are producing The Bad and the Better, in part, through a fundraising campaign on RocketHub, a crowd-funding platform that helps jump-start creative projects. Contributors receive perks including access to special events and Amoralists merchandise. The company also accepts fully tax-deductible donations through fiscal sponsor The Field.

Performances are Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm, and Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm. Tickets are $49.95 and can be purchased online at https://www.TicketCentral.com or by calling 212-279-4200. The theater is accessible from any train to Times Square/West 42 Street. For more information on the show visit http://www.TheBadandtheBetter.com.