World-Premiere Play PRATFALLS Begins Today, April 27

The world-premiere of the new play PRATFALLS, by playwright Holly Webber, directed by Jenn Thompson and starring Victor Verhaeghe (HBO's "Boardwalk Empire"), Kate Middleton, Amelia White and Matthew Baldiga opens tonight, April 27 at the Abingdon Theatre Complex (312 West 36th Street).

Performances of PRATFALLS run today, April 27 through May 19 on a performance schedule of Wednesday-Saturdays at 8pm, and Saturday-Sundays at 2pm at the Abingdon Theatre Complex/Dorothy Strelsin Theatre (312 West 36th Street). Tickets are $20-$25 and can be purchased through Theatermania.com by searching “pratfalls” or at www.GroundUPproductions.org or by calling 866-411-8111. 

For more information about PRATFALLS, please visit www.GroundUPproductions.org

PRATFALLS is playwright Holly Webber’s award winning (Playwrights First 2008) new comedy set on a rooftop in Brooklyn that explores four mismatched characters and the ups and downs of their lives -- the 5th floor walkups, city-wide blackouts, stand-up comedy, and perhaps even love.

Directed by Jenn Thompson (recently appointed co-Artistic Director of TACT), the cast of PRATFALLS features Kate Middleton, Victor Verhaeghe, Amelia White and Matthew Baldiga. Design team for PRATFALLS is Travis McHale (set and lighting design) and Amanda Jenks (costume design).

Holly Webber wrote sketches and monologues for the weekly show of the Red Room comedy group in New York City from 1996 to 2000; her short play, FLASH PICTURES, was presented at the Pulse Theatre in 1998. Her monologue “Origin of the Species” was performed by Jason Kravits at PS-NBC in 2000 and at the Actors Playhouse in L.A. in 2001. Her one-act play, WANDERJAHR, was performed at the Phil Bosakowski Theatre and appeared in Cicada magazine in 2002. Her comic essays were included in May Contain Nuts, a humor anthology in the Mirth of a Nation series (HarperCollins, 2005). Her play, PRATFALLS, won the Playwrights First Award in 2008 and was included in Ground UP’s New Works Festival in 2011.

Jenn Thompson – who was named co-Artistic Director of The Actors Company Theatre/TACT in 2011 – has directed for TACT: MY THREE ANGELS, RAIN, KIND LADY, THE MEMORANDUM, and the critically acclaimed THE LATE CHRISTOPHER BEAN and the revival of Tennessee Williams' THE ECCENTRICITIES OF A NIGHTINGALE. Other directing credits include the world premieres of BADGE by Mathew Schneck (Beacon Productions at the Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre), TERM LIMIT by Viki Boyle (American Globe Theatre), THE BRILLIANCE OF BERNSTEIN (featuring Phyllis Newman - American Musicals Project at the NY Historical Society) and Richard Thompson's critically acclaimed play BIG DOOLIE, which sold out its run at the 10th Anniversary NYC Fringe Festival. As an actress, Jenn has performed on Broadway in the Tony Award-winning productions of Ah, Wilderness!, The Heiress, and Annie. And Off-Broadway at Playwrights' Horizons, The Public Theatre; Soho Rep, The York; American Jewish Theatre; The Hudson Guild; W.P.A., Protean Theatre Company; Perry Street Theatre and Ubu Rep.

Kate Middleton credits include: THE LATE CHRISTOPHER BEAN (TACT), AVOW (NYIT nomination for Best Leading Actress), CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION (St. Louis Rep), PERFECT WEDDING (Geva), MARTY (Huntington Theater), NJ Shakespeare, Playmaker's Rep, Dorset Playhouse, Triad Stage, in addition to PROOF, BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, THE SHAPE OF THINGS, HOUSE OF YES, PUMP BOYS & DINETTES (Ground UP Productions), etc. Recurring on NBC's "Mercy", L&O, and L&O: SVU.

Victor Verhaeghe can currently be seen on the HBO series “Boardwalk Empire.” Select theatre credits include: MAGIC HANDS FREDDY (Soho Playhouse), HOUSEHEAD (Mint Theater); SPECK’S LAST (Berkshire Playwrights Lab); BURN THIS and BABY WITH THE BATHWATER (Ground UP); etc.

Amelia White won a Theatre World Award for her role in THE ACCRINGTON PALS. She appeared on Broadway in the original production of CRAZY FOR YOU and the 1995 revival of THE HEIRESS.

Matthew Baldiga’s credits include: 3:59am (33rd Humana Festival), BRINK! (33rd Humana Festival), THIS LADY’S NOT FOR BURNING (Parenthesis), THE AUSTERITY OF HOPE (Fresh Fruit Festival), etc.

Ground UP Productions was formed in 2005 by a group of friends from North Carolina (many graduates from UNC-Chapel Hill). They are committed to producing “The New Classics” – breaking ground with new plays and musicals which are destined for greatness, as well as reviving old favorites in original and exciting ways. In years past they have produced: the critically acclaimed original musical THE PEOPLE VS. MONA – which was called: “A hootin’ good time!” by Variety, “Good-natured, down-home fun,” by The New York Times, and “One surprisingly tasty gumbo,” by Time Out New York; THE SHAPE OF THINGS; THE HOUSE OF YES; PUMP BOYS & DINETTES; LOBBY HERO; BURN THIS; THE OPTIMIST (world-premiere); T.S. ELLIOT AND THE WOMEN; BAREFOOT IN THE PARK; LETTER FROM ALGERIA (world-premiere); etc.

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