New Brooklyn Theatre to Present PRECIOUS THINGS

The New Brooklyn Theatre will present PRECIOUS THINGS, an evening of two one-act plays by playwright and television scribe Wil Calhoun, at the Studio Theatre on Theatre Row from September 7 through 9. These exciting preview performances--for which tickets are free!--will mark a chance to see PRECIOUS THINGS in advance of a full production by the company next year.

PRECIOUS THINGS is comprised of CALL IT CLOVER and AFFECTIONS OF AN ALLEY CAT, two one-acts first published in the early 1990s. Calhoun has revisited the plays at the New Brooklyn Theatre's request and they will be produced together for the first time this September.

Each play chronicles the trials of blue-collar everyman Eddie and his failed attempts for intimate connection. In the first play of the series, CALL IT CLOVER, Eddie approaches Sandy, a former aspiring model who is now bedridden with a paralyzing illness. In the second, AFFECTIONS OF AN ALLEY CAT, he attempts to turn his business relationship with the sex worker Denise into a legitimate affair. In both narratives, the women he reaches out to long for companionship, but not of the sort that he is able to offer. ?

Although these were originally separate pieces, Calhoun imagined the stories might have occurred on the same day. That is, Eddie could have left Sandy's house and gone straight to Denise. Calhoun's vision will be realized in this New Brooklyn Theatre mounting where the audience will be able to embrace the interrelation between the pieces.

Calhoun is a writer, show runner and television producer. He is known for his work on FRIENDS (writer, Executive Producer), WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOU (Co-creator, Executive Producer), WHITNEY (Executive Producer) JESSE, SONS AND DAUGHTERS, KATH AND KIM, GARY UNMARRIED, CAROLINE IN THE CITY and GRACE & FRANKIE with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. Other plays by Calhoun include ONE WEST WACKER and THE BALCONY SCENE (Circle Repertory Company with Jonathon Hogan, Cynthia Nixon and William Fichner).

PRECIOUS THINGS will be directed by Jessi D. Hill. Hill is a theatre director based in New York City. New York credits include new work at New York Theatre Workshop, The Public Theater/Joe's Pub, The Playwrights' Center, Primary Stages, Labyrinth, The Women's Project, 59E59, The New Group, Ensemble Studio Theatre, P73, terraNOVA Collective, Culture Project, The Acting Company, The Barrow Group, PS122, Abingdon, Baruch Performing Arts Center, New Dramatists, The Lark, The Playwrights Realm, New Georges, Naked Angels, The Wild Project, and others. She has been a director and teacher in professional training programs at Yale School of Drama, Juilliard, The Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center/NTI, Fordham University, Long Island University, Powerhouse/NY Stage & Film, NYU/Tisch, Strasberg, CAP21, The Atlantic School, Playwrights HorizonsTheatre School, Hunter College, Marymount Manhattan, American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and others. Hill is a recipient of the Denham Fellowship from the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation, an Alumna of the Women's Project Lab, and an Affiliated Artist at New Georges. She served as Associate Artistic Director of terraNOVA Collective from 2009-2015 where she co-created the Groundbreakers Playwrights Group and Groundworks new works program. She is currently the Artistic Associate at Flying Carpet Theatre Company and the Literary Team Director at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater. Her work has been seen internationally in Edinburgh, London, New Zealand, Berlin, and Hamburg.

For free tickets, go to www.artful.ly/store/events/13070.

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