The Amoralists Present AMERISSIAH At Theatre 80 St. Marks, Begins 6/3

Riding high from their last two wildly successful productions of Happy In The Poorhouse and The Pied Pipers of the Lower East Side, The Amoralists presents the Off-Broadway Premiere of Amerissiah, written and directed by Derek Ahonen. Amerissiah runs from June 3 to 28, 2010 in a limited engagement at Theatre 80 St. Marks, located at 80 St. Marks Place between 1st and 2nd Avenues in NYC. Previews begin June 3 for a June 5 opening.

Performances are Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays at 8pm and Sundays at 3pm. Tickets are $40 for adults and $20 for students and can be purchased online at http://www.Theatre80.org or by calling 212-388-0388. For more information visit http://www.TheAmoralists.com.

Something beyond comprehension is happening in a Marble Hill, Bronx apartment. Barry Ricewater, a perfectly healthy 37-year-old businessman is purposefully dying of a treatable disease. He’s become convinced that he’s God and must return to heaven to save his corrupt family from prison. The Ricewater clan thinks that he’s crazy . . . until a slew of strange, supernatural phenomena begin to occur. Amerissiah is a new American ghost story about the thin line between ambition and corruption, faith and insanity.

The Amoralists is a theatre company that produces work with no moral judgment by new and emerging playwrights. Dedicated to an honest expression of the American condition, their actor-driven ensemble explores complex characters of moral ambiguity. They seek to initiate a dialogue between artists and audience, and put theatre at the heart of our community. Rollicking, rebellious and raw, their work will go home with you...Boom!

Derek Ahonen is the resident playwright of The Amoralists Theatre Company. His plays with The Amoralists include Happy In The Poorhouse, The Pied Pipers of the Lower East Side, The Hey You Monster Part One: Pokin The Bears In A Zoo and Part Two: Bring Us The Head Of Your Daughter (both published by United Stages) and While Chasing The Fantastic. Martin Denton of NYTheatre.com says “His talent as a playwright is very impressive…in the manner of Sam Shepard or Tracy Letts (though laced throughout with Ahonen’s trademark social consciousness, which distinguishes this young playwright from his antecedents).”

The cast includes William Apps, Selene Berreta, Jennifer Fouche, James Kautz, Nick Lawson, Sarah Lemp, Matthew Pilieci, Aysha Quinn and George Walsh. The design and production team consists of Alfred Schatz (Set Design), Jeremy Pape (Lighting Design and Assistant Director), Bart Lucas (Sound Design), Ricky Lang (Costume Design), Daniel Stern (Stage Manager) and Larry Cobra (Spiritual Advisor).

Critical acclaim for The Amoralists’ previous Off-Broadway production, Happy In The Poorhouse

“This gleefully crass comedy by the Amoralists is like a shotgun blast, with a charming cast, a favorable rate of funny jokes, and an undercurrent of genuine warmth.” ~ The New Yorker, Rollo Romig

“To all those worried that the Amoralists—the Company Behind last year’s sprawling, hippies-in-peril hit The Pied Pipers of the Lower East Side—might be a flash in the pan: You may stop yer fussing. There’s enough in Poorhouse to make any evening rich.” ~ TimeOut NY (4 out of 5 stars), HeLen Shaw

“There’s no denying Ahonen’s forging a unique voice. Happy In The Poorhouse is a fun ride.” ~ The New York Post, Elisabeth Vincentelli

“Ahonen’s work feels so authentic and significant…My gut is that part of the future of American theatre rest with these guys.” ~ NYTheatre.com, Martin Denton

“If John Cassavetes had been hired to do a movie remake of The Honeymooners, the results might have been something like the very funny (and very poignant) new play Happy In The Poorhouse.” ~ The Connecticut Post, Joe Meyers

“If the Amoralists and Ahonen keep up this pace, one wonders if they will be in the poorhouse for very much longer.” ~ The L Magazine, Robert Tumas

“I’m again captivated by this theatre company and their dirty, funny, ultimately compassionate brand of freshness.” ~ Just Shows To Go You, Patrick Lee

The Amoralists is a critically acclaimed theatre company that was formed in 2006 by actors James Kautz and Matthew Pilieci, and playwright/director Derek Ahonen on a car ride to Las Vegas. With a goal of winning $50,000 to start their company they lost $5,000 and founded it regardless. Through its first three seasons The Amoralists have produced six original full-length plays to rave reviews and sold out houses. In 2009, Meghan Ritchie and Matthew Fraley joined the Amoralists family as producing partners. That summer, their play, The Pied Pipers of the Lower East Side, ran from June 2 to October 5, extending two times before transferring successfully to an Off Broadway run. The play was named to numerous 2009 Top Ten Lists, including Elisabeth Vincentelli’s of The New York Post and Adam Feldman’s of TimeOut New York. Amoralists’ plays are published and available at Barnes and Noble, The Drama Bookshop and Amazon.com.

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