Annapurna Sriram Leads New Eco-Comedy WHIRLWIND

Executive producer and playwright Jordan Jaffe, along with co-producer Rebecca Crigler (Mike Birbiglia's The New One, Chris Gethard: Career Suicide), announce the world premiere of Jaffe's new eco-comedy Whirlwind. The second entry in the playwright's "Energy" series (following up the world premiere production of Crude), concerning the dirty dealings and messy relationships at a clean energy wind farm, Whirlwind begins previews at The Wild Project (195 E. 3rd St., between Ave. A and Ave. B) on January 23 toward an opening on January 28, with a limited engagement scheduled through February 10. Tickets, priced at $25, are available at www.WhirlwindPlay.com.

Jordan Jaffe's new eco-comedy Whirlwind centers around the operations at Arrow Energy, a wind developer whose hundreds of turbines are directly in the migratory path of endangered birds. Bethany, a health and safety manager for Arrow, is tasked with distracting and diverting the efforts of Michael, a wildlife advocate, from challenging the expansion of their wind farm-an assignment that becomes all the more complicated when the two become romantically entangled, while Bethany also dodges inappropriate courting from her boss, Cooper. Darkly comedic and unpredictable, Whirlwind explores the precarious intersection of business, science, and sexual politics involved when "going green."

The cast of Whirlwind features Annapurna Sriram (The New Group's The Spoils, Second Stage's The Happiest Song Plays Last) as Bethany, Christian Conn (Broadway's Desire Under the Elms, Red Bull Theater's The School for Scandal) as Michael, and Johnny Wu (Broadway's Chinglish, Ma-Yi's Washer/Dryer) as Cooper. Scenic design is by Lianne Arnold; costume design by Loren Shaw; lighting design by David Sexton; sound design by Matthew Fischer; and props design by Sarah George. Laura Malseed serves as Stage Manager. Casting is by Calleri Casting. Whirlwind is directed by Dan Amboyer.

The world premiere of Whirlwind will play The Wild Project (195 E. 3rd St., between Ave. A and Ave. B) from January 23 to February 10, according to the following schedule: Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 7:30pm; Saturday at 8pm; and Sunday at 2pm. An additional performance on Monday, January 28 at 7:30pm, marks the production's opening night. Tickets, priced at $25, are available at www.WhirlwindPlay.com.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Jordan Jaffe (Playwright and Executive Producer) is a New York-based playwright, director, and producer. Jordan's energy plays, in addition to Whirlwind, include Crudeand Chained. The world premiere production of Crude played at Theater 511 at Ars Nova in 2016, featuring Nico Tortorella (Paramount's "Younger"). A reading of his play Chainedwas staged at The Wild Project in 2017, featuring Desmin Borges (FXX's "You're the Worst"). Jaffe's directorial credits include the Texas regional premieres of Bad Jews; Tigers Be Still (2014-15 Houston Press Award, Best Director nominee); Really, Really;Assistance; and The Submission. Film/TV/Web credits include "Modern Aliens" (Executive Producer/writer), "Jump In," and Come Home. Jordan is a proud graduate of Rice University, and also trained at the Atlantic Acting School. In 2013, Jordan was named to the Houston Press' Top 100 Creatives list of "movers and shakers" in the arts. For more information about Jordan, visit www.jordanjaffe.com.

Dan Amboyer (Director) is a New York-based director and actor. As described by Ben Brantley, Dan is "a downtown theater veteran" who has worked with Ars Nova, HERE Arts Center, PS122, The Flea, 92nd Y, The Zipper Factory, Emerging Artists Theatre, as well as workshopping projects with MCC, CSC, The McCarter, among others. He starred in the premiere of A.R. Gurney's final play Squash in NY, and the premiere of David Ives' The Metromaniacs for The Shakespeare Theatre in DC. On the small screen, he starred on Darren Star's "Younger," NBC's "The Blacklist: Redemption," CBS' "Tell Me A Story," and as Prince William in the TV film William & Catherine alongside Oscar nominee Jane Alexander. Film work includes Brawl in Cell Block 99, Batman vs. Superman, Love the Coopers, The Wrong Son, A Very Merry Toy Store. Dan is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon's School of Drama. Recently, he has been incubating new plays Chained (The Wild Project) and Whirlwind (Dixon Place) with playwright Jordan Jaffe.

Photo Credit: Jessica Fallon Gordon

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