NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH Comes To Brits Off Broadway at 59E59 Theaters

59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer) is thrilled to welcome the Stephen Joseph Theatre back to Brits Off Broadway with NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH, written and directed by Alan Ayckbourn. NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH begins performances on Wednesday, November 30 for a limited engagement through Sunday, January 1. Press opening is Wednesday, December 7 at 7 PM. The performance schedule is Tuesday - Thursday at 7 PM; Friday at 8 PM; Saturday at 2 PM & 8 PM; Sunday at 3 PM & 7 PM. Single tickets are $45 ($35 for 59E59 Members) for performances from November 30 - December 11; $65 ($45 for 59E59 Members) for performances from December 13 - January 1. To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or go to www.59e59.org. For more information, visit www.britsoffbroadway.com.

Please note the following Holiday performance schedule from Tuesday, December 20 - Sunday, January 1: Tue-Wed 7; Thu 2 & 7; Fri 8; Sat 2 & 7; Sun 3. There is no performance on Sunday, December 25.

Things are not right on The Bluebell Hill Development. Theft, petty crime, and vandalism-all the ills of modern suburban living-are on the rise. Newcomers Martin and his sister Hilda are the crime wave's latest victims - on the very day of their housewarming party, no less - and resolve to take action. But what starts out as a well-intentioned neighborhood watch scheme soon develops into something altogether more sinister. And hilarious.

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH marks Alan Ayckbourn's fourth play to make its New York or US premiere at Brits Off Broadway. Previous plays include Private Fears in Public Places (2005, Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Director Of A Play for Alan Ayckbourn), Intimate Exchanges (2007, Drama Desk nominations for Outstanding Play and Outstanding Actor In A Play for Bill Champion), and My Wonderful Day (2009, Drama Desk nominations for Outstanding Play and Outstanding Actress In A Play for Ayesha Antoine).

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH premiered at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough, UK in September of 2011 to wide critical acclaim. The Daily Telegraph called it "blissful," saying that playwright Alan Ayckbourn is "as bang on the money as ever!" The Guardian called it "cracking good!"

Actors Terence Booth and Alexandra Mathie return to 59E59 following their outstanding performances in My Wonderful Day (2009). Joining Mr. Booth and Ms. Mathie in the cast are Eileen Battye, Phil Cheadle, Matthew Cottle, Richard Derrington, Frances Grey and Amy Loughton.

The set and costume designer is Pip Leckenby. The lighting designer is Mick Hughes.

Alan Ayckbourn (writer/director) is the former Artistic Director of the Stephen Joseph Theatre, a post he held for 37 years until his retirement in 2009 and one of Britain's most performed playwrights. Almost all of his 75 plays received their first performance at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, with more than 35 of his works being subsequently staged in the West End, at The National Theatre or by the Royal Shakespeare Company. Major successes include Relatively Speaking, How the Other Half Loves, Absurd Person Singular, Bedroom Farce, A Chorus of Disapproval, A Small Family Business, Henceforward..., Comic Potential, Things We Do For Love and House & Garden. In 2009, Matthew Warchus' hit in-the-round production of The Norman Conquests first seen at the Old Vic transferred to Broadway, earning a Tony for Best Revival of a Play. Recently The National Theatre revived his 1980 play Season's Greetings to great acclaim and off-West End productions of Snake in the Grass and Haunting Julia both garnered excellent reviews. At the Stephen Joseph Theatre this year he directed two premieres, Dear Uncle, his adaptation of Uncle Vanya, and Neighbourhood Watch. His plays have been translated into 35 languages, won numerous awards nationally and internationally, and have been performed worldwide on stage and television. In the past two years, he has been inducted into American Theatre's Hall of Fame, received the 2010 Critics' Circle Award for Services to the Arts and became the first British playwright to receive both Olivier and Tony Special Lifetime Achievement Awards. He was knighted in 1997 for services to the theatre.

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