Photo Flash: SOUTH BEACH RAPTURE Plays Fringe NYC

The Perseid Meteor Shower, an annual event that takes place in mid-August when Earth passes close to the orbit of the Comet Swift-Tuttle, is set to peak this weekend, as David Caudle's SOUTH
BEACH RAPTURE - a new play about three stargazers who find one another during a meteor shower - is set to make its world premiere at Dixon Place (161 Chrystie Street) during the 14th Annual New York International Fringe Festival, an annual event that takes place in mid-August when hundreds of shows are presented in New York City. Michelle Bossy, Associate Artistic Director of Primary Stages, directs.

"SOUTH BEACH RAPTURE is about destiny and coincidence," notes playwright David Caudle, author of The Sunken Living Room. "It's a remarkable coincidence that the meteor shower is peaking so close to our opening on Sunday, August 15. I hope it's a good omen," he adds. Mr. Caudle also points out that the solar maximum (a.k.a. Northern Lights) is particularly active - an occurrence last recorded in 2001, the year SOUTH BEACH RAPTURE is set. As observed by Albert, the
character played by John G. Preston in Mr. Caudle's play, "This blows every coincidence or synchronicity or serendipity ever recorded, just blows 'em all right out of the water!"

Performances of David Caudle's SOUTH BEACH RAPTURE are at Dixon Place (161A Chrystie Street): Sunday, August 15 at 7:00PM; Saturday, August 21 at 11:00PM; Sunday, August 22 at 4:15PM; Monday, August 23 at 3:45PM; Wednesday, August 25 at 7:45PM

A hot night on South Beach gets even hotter when three strangers meet to watch an unprecedented meteor shower. In SOUTH BEACH RAPTURE, Cynthia (Amelia Jean Alvarez), a pretty New York socialite encounters two very different men: Albert (John G. Preston), local college
professor, and Felipe (Bobby Moreno), a seductive hustler. But which meeting was written in the stars? The forty-something failed artist, or the sexy Latino rentboy? Or both?

SOUTH BEACH RAPTURE features Amelia Jean Alvarez, seen Off-Broadway in Neil LaBute's play, THE DISTANCE FROM HERE, which won the Drama Desk Award for outstanding ensemble; Bobby Moreno, whose credits include OFFENDING THE AUDIENCE (Flea), ReENTRY (Urban Stages), ORESTES 2.0
(HERE), and AL'S BUSINESS CARDS; and John G. Preston, who recently starred opposite Kristen Johnston in Mint Theatre Company's Off-Broadway revival of SO HELP ME GOD!

The production features set design by Charlie Corcoran (Irish Repertory Theatre's THE EMPEROR JONES); costume design by Tamara Kopko; sound design by Ryan Rumery; fight direction by Autumn Horne; lighting design by Jill Nagle; and casting by Kelly Gillespie.

Playwright David Caudle is the award-winning author of THE SUNKEN LIVING ROOM, which will have its New York premiere in the HOWL! Festival in September, directed by renowned Italian director Enrico Maria Lamanna. The Common SWALLOW premiered in last year's HOWL! Festival. IN DEVELOPMENT and LIKENESS premiered at New Theatre in Miami. VISITING HOURS was a finalist in last year's New Plays Festival at Premiere Stages. He is a member of the Dorothy Strelsin New
American Writers Group at Primary Stages, where he developed SOUTH BEACH RAPTURE. Mr. Caudle wrote the screenplay adaptation of the book "Major Conflict: One Gay Man's Life in the Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell Military," by Retired US Army Major Jeffrey McGowan. For more information, visit www.davidcaudle.org

Director Michelle Bossy is the Associate Artistic Director of Primary Stages. She runs the Dorothy Strelsin New American Writer's Group and teaches playwriting and acting for the Einhorn School of Performing Arts at Primary Stages. She also produced the independent production of DREAD AWAKENING, and directed and produced the premiere of SARAJEVO'S CHILD in FringeNYC 2005.

FringeNYC, now in its 14th year, is the largest multi-arts festival in North America, with more than 200 companies from all over the world performing for 17 days in more than 20 venues.

Performances of David Caudle's SOUTH BEACH RAPTURE run as part of the 14th Annual New York International Fringe Festival at Dixon Place (161A Chrystie Street, between Rivington and Delancey Street): Sunday, August 15 at 7:00pm; Saturday, August 21 at 11:00am; Sunday, August 22 at 4:15pm; Monday, August 23 at 3:45pm; and Wednesday, August 25 at 7:45pm. General admission tickets are $15 in advance, $18 at the door. Advance tickets are available, beginning July 23, online at www.fringenyc.org or call 866-468-7619.

For more information, visit www.fringenyc.org or call 866-468-7619.

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