Martin Joseph Opens 'What Makes You Think I Want to Talk To You,' 7/13

He's cool, he's hip, he's short...ish. He's the happening host, the man with a spring in his step (thanks to his platform shoes), the man who puts the "i-t-y" in Marvelosity! He's the wannabe King of talk -- a driven, terribly insecure and narcissistic fellow, with a bit of a self-destructive bent -- and nothing is off limits as long as it's all about him. He's the one, the only, Martin -- and he will show you just how marvelous he is as he interviews four eccentrically distinct guests in his one man show at the Dorothy Strelsin Theatre, located at 312 West 36th Street, starting on July 13th, as part of the Eleventh Annual Midtown InterNational Theatre Festival.

Written by and starring Martin Joseph, this one-person multi-media interactive extravaganza (okay, some flashing lights, a lot of noise, a bit of audience participation and a video screen) 'What Makes You Think I Want To Talk To You?' is a hilarious spoof of the talk show genre. It's directed by Carl Ford and executive produced by Susan Batson.

Martin Joseph has guest starred on network television shows (My Wife & Kids, The District) and in numerous national commercials (Verizon, Cadillac, Miller Lite). He has performed in improv and sketch comedy groups at the acclaimed Improv Olympic West. Lately, he has also taken on the role of producer working on talk and reality shows for major studios, recently receiving his first Emmy nomination.

Director Carl Ford's theater directing credits include Williams Town Theatre Company productions of Hamlet, King Lear, and Fences; for Producers Club in Manhattan (1996) two original works: Miles and Dizzy and The Hard End; Fort Greene Group Therapy at the NBC theatrical space at the Here Theater; Liza Jesse Peterson's one-woman show Peculiar Patriot; regional production of The Blue Room at the Stella Adler Theater in Los Angeles; Equity showcase production of The Hard End (also at the Stella Adler Theater).

Executive Producer Susan Batson was a producer of the Tony-winning Broadway revival of A Raisin in the Sun. She also teamed-up with producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron on the network television movie of Raisin, featuring much of the Broadway cast. Her book Truth won the 2007 Reader's Choice Award, and she has received a New York and Los Angeles Drama Critics Award and an Obie for her work as an actress.

The Midtown InterNational Theatre Festival, created by John Chatterton and now in its eleventh year, welcomes theatrical storytelling across a broad spectrum of genres, forms, identities, cultures, and appetites. The MITF seeks to nurture these new ideas, perspectives, and stories on its stages, with an eye set on guiding these productions toward future success and longevity. The MITF proudly hosts production companies from across the country and around the globe, uniting talent in one of the biggest theatre capitals in the world. For more information, go to www.midtownfestival.org.

Running through July 31st, 'What Makes You Think I Want To Talk To You?' will be performed at the Dorothy Strelsin Theatre, located at 312 West 36th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues), on the first floor, as part of the Eleventh Annual Midtown InterNational Theatre Festival. Show times are Tuesday, July 13th at 6pm, Saturday, July 17th at 5pm, Sunday, July 18th at 7:30pm, Friday, July 23rd at 6pm, Saturday, July 24th at 9pm and Saturday, July 31st at 1pm. Tickets to all shows are $18.00, $15.00 for students and seniors. Reservations: 866-811-4111 or www.midtownfestival.org. Running time is 60 minutes.

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