POST OFFICE Opens At The New Ohio Theater, Previews 12/1

David Gelles (GRACELAND at Lincoln Center), Anney Giobbe (SUBURBIA) and Eric Hoffmann (WEST SIDE STORY) comprise the cast of POST OFFICE, a new play by David Jenkins (MIDDLEMEN) being given its world-premiere by Human Animals. Preview performances begin December 1 prior to an official press opening on December 6 at The New Ohio Theatre (154 Christopher St.) POST OFFICE is directed by Josie Whittlesey.

Set in the weeks leading up to the holiday mail rush, POST OFFICE centers on 19-year-old James Noone who is beginning his career as a mail carrieR. Denny, an aging postal worker has taken it upon himself to teach the reluctant James everything he knows. In the meantime, James embarks on an affair with a disillusioned housewife, who imparts some lessons of a radically different stripe. Jenkins’ play considers what the decline of the U.S. Mail means for three residents of a small town, each of them linked by the mail, each of them trying to find something to believe in. At once funny and stark, POST OFFICE is a timely look at the state of the American dream and the decline of an American institution.

David Jenkins' previous play MIDDLEMEN was well-received by Time Out New York, Huffington Post and others when it debuted Off-Broadway in 2009. Mr. Jenkins is a New York based playwright, producer, and founding member/Artistic Director of Human Animals. His plays include SMALL CLAIMS and TODAY/TOMORROW/YESTERDAY and have been developed by the Lark Theater and IRT. Originally an actor by trade, he has worked extensively in Chicago and elsewhere including ACT and Yale Repertory Theater. He holds an MFA from NYU’s Graduate Acting Program, where he received the Paul Walker Scholarship.

POST OFFICE is part of the inaugural season at New Ohio Theatre, a long-time stalwart in Soho-- home to Soho Think Tank, Ice Factory and countless Off and Off-Off-Broadway productions since 1994 -- that relocated to the West Village this fall.

David Gelles' stage credits include GRACELAND (Lincoln Center Theater); ROMEO & JULIET (Romeo, Shakespeare & Company); MICROCRISIS (Ma-Yi Theatre Co.); WHITE PEOPLE, PHOTOGRAPH 51, BOTH (Ensemble Studio Theatre); and EDGEWISE (Cherry Lane Studio). Anney Giobbe has appeared in THE PAVILION, ONE and THE GLASS MENAGERIE at Cincinnati Playhouse, PROOF directed by David Auburn, SUBURBIA at Lincoln Center and NAKED FAITH with Naked Angels. Eric Hoffman recently completed the 50th Anniversary World Tour of WEST SIDE STORY. He spent nine seasons at Shakespeare Theatre in Washington, DC, appearing in HAMLET, MEASURE FOR MEASURE, HENRY IV, CORIOLANUS and CAMINO REAL.

Josie Whittlesey previously directed MIDDLEMEN (Human Animals) by David Jenkins, THE GRAND MA (New Black Fest) by Susan Kelechi Watson and VIOLENCE IN PARTICULAR (Studio Tisch) by Brian St. James Brooks. As an actor, Josie has performed in numerous productions, including FRAN’S BED with James Lapine and Mia Farrow (NY Stage and Film), and HUNTED with Sam Shepard (Public Theater).

Human Animals is a theater company dedicated to the exploration of the idiosyncrasies of the Human Animal. POST OFFICE is its second full production. Human Animals' inaugural production of MIDDLEMEN, garnered the following praise:

POST OFFICE has set design by Alexis Distler (Barrymore Award for IN THE NEXT ROOM…at the Wilma Theatre in Philadelphia; MIDDLEMEN), and lighting design by Seth Reiser (Mike Daisey's THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY OF STEVE JOBS; Taylor Mac's THE LILY'S REVENGE). Krystal Lucas and Jenny Mercein are Human Animals producing partners.

POST OFFICE runs December 1 - 17, Thursdays -Tuesdays at 8 pm (no Wednesday performances) at The New Ohio Theatre (154 Christopher Street -- accessible from the 1 train to Christopher Street or the A, C, E, B, D, F, or M trains at West 4th Street). Tickets are $18 and can be purchased by calling Smarttix at 212 868 4444 or online at www.smarttix.com. For more information visit www.sohothinktank.org or www.humananimals.org.

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