Barnes to Play Clinton in FringeNYC's 'Hillary Agonistes'

Playwrights' Arena in association with Frantic Redhead Productions is proud to present the US Premiere of Hillary Agnonistes as part of the 11th annual New York International Fringe Festival - FringeNYC.  Hillary Agonistes played to acclaim last summer at the Edinburgh Fringe. The British Theatre Guide called it "one of the best full scale new plays in Edinburoguh this year."

Part Greek tragedy, part blackest comedy, the show "tells the cautionary tale of Hillary Clinton, newly elected President of the United States.  One bright spring day 65 million people disappear – First Husband Bill among them.  Is it the rapture? Pat Robertson, Stephen Hawking, a Papal emissary, the Antichrist and a Muslim convert named Chelsea offer their opinions as Hillary agonizes and attempts to avert Armageddon."

The production features Priscilla Barnes as Hillary Clinton. Barnes, with 78 film and TV roles to her credit (from 1978's vintage "Starsky and Hutch" to 2005's Rob Zombie cult classic, The Devil's Rejects, including her starring stint as Terri in the hit TV series, "Three's Company" from 1981 to 1984) is making her New York stage debut.  The actress has worked extensively in theatre starring in the West Coast premiere of Joe Pintauro's What I Did for Love, Born Yesterday, Vanities, Richard Greenberg's The Maderati,  Duke with Robert Morse and A Streetcar Named Desire as Blanche.

Other members of the cast include Rebecca Metz ("Nip/Tuck") as Chelsea Clinton. Playwright Nick Salamone, whose acting career includes 70 stage productions, portrays all the men in the production in a nod to his play's ancient Greek tragic antecedents.  His musical play Moscow was a hit with critics and audiences alike at the 2003 CheckovNow Festival and won both the Fringe First Award for New Writing and the Audience Favorite Award at the Edinburgh International Fringe Festival.  Playwrights' Arena's Artistic Director, Jon Lawrence Rivera, whose plays have garnered over 80 Los Angeles and International theatre awards and nominations, directs Hillary Agonistes. Rivera last worked in NYC directing Luis Alfaro's Straight as a Line for Primary Stages.

Performances will be (insert playing schedule). Tickets will be  $15.  For tickets visit www.FringeNYC.org or call (212) 279-4488 or toll free 1-888-FringeNYC.

The New York International Fringe Festival – FringeNYC is a production of The Present Company.

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