The Flea Presents JUST CAUSE, Previews 5/6

The Flea Theater presents the World Premiere of JUST CAUSE, the directing debut of Flea Resident Director ZACK RUSSELL. The play is also written by Mr. Russell, and features The Bats, The Flea's acclaimed resident company of actors. Previews begin May 6, with opening night slated for Thursday, May 19.

What is freedom, and how can I get some? JUST CAUSE is a subversive comedy that follows a group of young revolutionary Brooklynites seeking violent change. Armed with iPhones, handguns, and inherited ideals, these would-be terrorists are determined to find meaning-by any means necessary.

"Watching recent events in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia, I couldn't help but wonder if American youth today would ever have the same capacity for revolution," states Russell. "JUST CAUSE is a response to the discordant angst, apathy, and absurdity I sometimes see in my generation."

The production stars Brett Aresco, Crystal Arnette, Allison Buck, Tommy Crawford, Greg Engbrecht, Katherine Folk-Sullivan, Eric Folks, Alex Herrald, Raúl Sigmund Julia, Georgia X Lifsher, Betsy Lippitt, Sean McIntyre, Kate Michaud, Briana Pozner, Ian Quinlan, Cynthia Whalen and Wilton Yeung. The production team includes Kate Sinclair Foster (set), Brian Tovar (lighting), Katie Hartsoe (costumes), Janie Bullard (sound), and Daniella Caggiano (stage manager).

Russell is one of The Flea's Resident Directors, four young artists who joined Artistic Director Jim Simpson at the helm for the 2010/2011 season. In January, The Flea Theater kicked off the New Play Series with Trista Baldwin's AMERICAN SEXY, directed by resident director Mia
Walker, which The New Yorker called "strong and convincing -- and brought to life with total commitment."

"The Flea is delighted to present another of our young Resident Directors' work," says Producing Director Carol Ostrow. "Zack brings his sharp skills as a writer/director to bear on this exploration of idealism, radical politics and hipster culture. We are honored to introduce another excellent young director to the Indie theater community."

Zack Russell is a Canadian theater director/writer currently based in New York. Over the past three years, he has directed his own work at theaters in Montreal, Toronto and Berlin. In February 2010 Zack directed his piece Parole, Parole at the Buddies in Bad Times Theatre in Toronto. This is Zack's New York City debut.

The Flea Theater, under Artistic Director Jim Simpson and Producing Director Carol Ostrow, is one of New York's leading off-off-Broadway companies. Winner of a Special Drama Desk Award for outstanding achievement, Obie Awards and an Otto for political theater, The Flea has presented nearly 100 plays and numerous dance and live music performances since its inception in 1996. Past productions include the premieres of Anne Nelson's The Guys; six plays by A.R. Gurney (Post
Mortem, O Jerusalem, Screenplay, Mrs. Farnsworth, A Light Lunch and Office Hours); Mac Wellman's Cellophane and Two September; Roger Rosenblatt's Ashley Montana Goes Ashore... and The Oldsmobiles; Elizabeth Swados' JABU and Kaspar Hauser; Karen Finley's Return of the
Chocolate Smeared Woman; Adam Rapp's Bingo with the Indians; Will Eno's Oh, The Humanity and other exclamations; Dawn by Thomas Bradshaw; The Great Recession, Jonathan Reynolds' Girls in Trouble, Bathsheba Doran's Parents' Evening, Looking at Christmas by Steven Banks and most recently American Sexy by Trista Baldwin. .

JUST CAUSE runs May 6 - June 6, schedule varies - visit www.theflea.org for a full performance schedule. The Flea is located at 41 White Street between Church and Broadway, three blocks south of Canal, close to the A/C/E, N/R/Q, 6, J/M/Z and 1 subway lines. Tickets are $20 and are available by calling 212-352-3101 or online at www.theflea.org.

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