Battalion Theatre's THIS IS OUR YOUTH to Open at Abingdon's Dorothy Strelsin Theatre

Starting March 10th Battalion Theatre presents Kenneth Lonergan's This Is Our Youth at Abingdon's Dorothy Strelsin Theatre directed by Gerrit Thurston. The cast features Dan Gonon, Gerrit Thurstonand Hannah Kloepfer.

Taking place in New York City during the Reagan era, This Is Our Youth is a humorous, incisive portrait of three privileged Upper West Side youths who can't cope with making the transition out of adolescence. Dennis, a charismatic, self absorbed 21 year old and small time drug dealer, is living in an apartment paid for by his father, a famous painter. His 19 year old dejected friend Warren enters with a suitcase full of childhood memorabilia and $15,000 that he stole from his father, an abusive lingerie tycoon who has kicked him out. Dennis agrees to let Warren stay for a few days until he figures out what to do. He then calculates how to make money off of a drug deal by using some of Warren's stolen cash that would simultaneously get rid of a debt Warren owes him and give Warren's father his money back before he comes after them. Their dilemma is further complicated by the entrance of Jessica, a pretty fashion student who, along with Dennis, introduces Warren to some of the more adult complexities of relationships.

This Is Our Youth was produced by Second Stage in 1998 after a short run at INTAR 2 years before. It was again produced at Broadway's Cort Theatre in 2014. Lonergan also wrote Lobby Hero (Playwrights Horizons) that was a 2001 Pulitzer Prize Runner Up and won the Outer Critics Circle award for Best Play. A prolific screenwriter, his films include You Can Count on Me (Academy Award Nomination for Best Original Screenplay), Gangs of New York (co-writer) Analyze This,and its sequel Analyze That, and Manchester By The Sea that premiered at the 2016 Sundance Festival.

Battalion Theatre is an actor driven ensemble that celebrates the wealth of talent to be found in emerging artists. Founders Kullan Edberg, Dan Gonon and Gerrit Thurston believe in utilizing a wide diversity of interests and skills to produce lively, joyful and significant evenings of theatre. Their combined backgrounds in classical, modern and experimental theater serve as a flexible vehicle for expression that continually offers the challenge of something new. Battalion's past productions include The Understudy, The Drunken City, The Tutors and Unhealthy.

Director Gerrit Thurston, also playing the role of Dennis in this production, has performed in and developed new works with Battalion. A graduate of Brown University's Theatre Arts program, he has trained and performed with Eugene O'Neill National Theatre Institute and Williamstown Theatre Festival. His credits includeThe Three Sisters at TF Greene Theatre (opposite Emma Watson), Speed The Plow and Straight White Men.

Dan Gonon's credits include his one man show Tramped (playing Charlie Chaplin) at United Solo Fest, The Great Osterlin Colony, Hamlet and Art. He has performed in Battalion productions since its founding in 2014 and holds a degree in Theatre Arts from Brown University.

Hannah Kloepfer is an actress, singer and model. Off-Broadway she's appeared in The Greatest Pirate Story (N)Ever Told!. A grad of Columbia University, she trained with Austin Pendleton at HB.

This Is Our Youthwill begin on Thursday March 10th at Abingdon Theatre's Dorothy Strelsin Theatre (312 W. 36th Street 1st floor bet. 8th and 9th Avenues) at 8PM. The performance schedule is Thu. 3/10 thru Sat. 3/12 and Thu. 3/17 thru Sat. 3/19 at 7:30PMPM. Tickets are $20 general admission and $10 for seniors/students. For tickets go to www.ovationtix.com or call 866-811-4111.For more information go to http://battaliontheatre.com.

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