'The Poor Itch' Runs March 7-23 at PublicLAB; Cast Announced

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Mara Manus) announced casting today for The Poor Itch, the second play of the inaugural PUBLIC LAB initiative.  Directed by Lisa Peterson, The Poor Itch is a new play by the late John Belluso that will run March 7-23.  Tickets are $10 for all PUBLIC LAB performances.

"In The Poor Itch, Ian (played by Christopher Thornton) comes back from the war in Iraq without the use of his legs but with a full-blown case of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and a year's supply of OxyContin. Now, he has to face the person he has become after the war," describe press notes.

The Poor Itch was featured in The Public's 2005 New Work Now Festival and was further developed in subsequent workshops prior to Belluso's tragic death in February 2006.  To continue shepherding Belluso's final play, The Public staged three different workshops with Director Lisa Peterson and the same company of actors.  That intensive, artistic process by the same creative team fused together various drafts of the play to create a thrilling, highly theatrical interpretation of the play.

The PUBLIC LAB cast features that same company of actors who helped shape Belluso's last contribution to American Theatre. The cast features Michael Chernus (Hunting and Gathering at Primary Stages); Alicia Goranson ("Roseanne"); Marc Damon Johnson (Mr. Fox: A Rumination at Signature); Piter Marek (The Public's King Lear); Deidre O'Connell (Cavedweller at NYTW); John Ottavino (Blackbird at MTC); Susan Pourfar (Swimming in the Shallows at Second Stage); and Christopher Thornton ("Curb Your Enthusiasm").

The Poor Itch will have scenic design by Rachel Hauck; costume design by Gabriel Berry; lighting design by Ben Stanton; and original music and sound design by Robert Kaplowitz.

 The Poor Itch will begin performances on Friday, March 7 and run through Sunday, March 23.  The performance schedule is Tuesdays through Fridays at 8PM; Saturdays at 2PM & 8PM; and Sundays at 3PM & 7PM. No performances on March 8 at 2PM; March 9 at 7PM; and March 19 at 8PM.

The Public Theater is located at 425 Lafayette Street.  All tickets are $10 and can be purchased at (212) 967-7555 or by visiting www.publictheater.org.

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