Theater Breaking Through Barriers Presents SOME OF OUR PARTS

Theater Breaking Through Barriers presents SOME OF OUR PARTS Seven ten-minute plays about disabilities - and the people affected by them.

World-premiere short plays by Neil LaBute, Kate Moira Ryan, Samuel D. Hunter, Diana Son, Bekah Brunstetter, Jeff Tabnick and Emily Chadick Weiss.

9 Performances Only! June 22-30 at Theatre Row's Clurman Theatre (410 West 42nd Street).

Theater Breaking Through Barriers (TBTB), the renowned Off-Broadway company known for its productions that integrate able-bodied actors with artists with disabilities, presents SOME OF OUR PARTS - an evening of seven ten-minute plays about disabilities, featuring world
premieres by Neil LaBute, Kate Moira Ryan, Samuel D. Hunter, Diana Son, Bekah Brunstetter, Jeff Tabnick, and Emily Chadick Weiss - with performances to run June 22-30 at Theatre Row's Clurman Theatre (410 West 42nd Street). Ike Schambelan, TBTB artistic director and founder, and TBTB company members Kimothy Cruse, Christina Roussos, and
Nicholas Viselli direct.

The world-premiere plays, each commissioned by TBTB, include Bekah Brunstetter's GORGEOUS, Samuel D. Hunter's WELCOME TO WALMART, Neil LaBute's CRIPPLES, Kate Moira Ryan's CASTING CALL, Diana Son's BLIND DATE, Jeff Tabnick's THE BIG PAYBACK, and Emily Chadick Weiss's GOOD
DANCER.

The ensemble of SOME OF OUR PARTS includes Mary Theresa Archbold, Melanie Boland, Shannon DeVido, David Harrell, Anita Hollander, Kenneth Kimmins, John Little, J.M. McDonough, Gregg Mozgala, Pamela Sabaugh, and Nicholas Viselli. The production features lighting design
by Wolfram Ott and sound design by Alden Fulcomer.

ABOUT THE PLAYS:

Bekah Brunstetter's GORGEOUS is set in a gym locker room, post-yoga, where two disabled women confront Gorgeous, a woman who is perfect -- or so they think. Christina Roussos directs.

In Samuel D. Hunter's WELCOME TO WALMART, an experienced, disabled Walmart greeter introduces a newbie to dealing with customers. Kimothy Cruse directs.

In Neil LaBute's CRIPPLES, three older men on a park bench discuss making it with disabled women. Ike Schambelan directs.

Kate Moira Ryan's CASTING CALL follows a character named "Ike Schambelan" as he tries to interest producers in casting disabled actors. Nicholas Viselli directs.

In Diana Son's BLIND DATE, a smooth-talking man in a wheelchair meets a woman in a cafe. Is he the blind date she's been waiting for? What you see is not always what you get. Kimothy Cruse directs.

Jeff Tabnick's THE BIG PAYBACK exposes a mother and son who wish each other well, wish each other ill, and discover they have amazing powers. Ike Schambelan directs.

In Emily Chadick Weiss's GOOD DANCER, a young couple is ready to take the next step in their relationship until it's time to announce the white boyfriend's disability to the black girlfriend's parents. Christina Roussos directs.

ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHTS:

Bekah Brunstetter is the author of the recent Off-Broadway hit BE A GOOD LITTLE WIDOW, ARMS, and BEFORE NEVER AGAIN with Phillip Gerson. Samuel D. Hunter's plays include A BRIGHT NEW BOISE, a 2011 OBIE Award winner and Drama Desk-nominee for Best Play, JACK'S PRECIOUS MOMENT and FIVE GENOCIDES. Neil LaBute's plays include the Tony-nominated REASONS TO BE PRETTY, THE SHAPE OF THINGS, SOME GIRLS, IN THE COMPANY OF MEN, MERCY SEAT, and FAT PIG, among others. Kate Moira Ryan's BASS FOR PICASSO was produced by TBTB last season, directed by Ike Schambelan; her other plays include CAVEDWELLER, BEEBO BRINKER CHRONICLES, LEAVING QUEENS, and 25 QUESTIONS FOR A JEWISH MOTHER with Judy Gold. Diana Son is best known for her plays STOP KISS, winner of the GLAAD Media Award, BOY, FISHES, and SATELLITES. Jeff Tabnick is the author of I FOUND HER TIED TO MY BED, AN IDIOT, and BARRYMORE'S BODY. Emily Chadick Weiss's plays include THE EXTRAORDINARY NEW BIBLE,
DRY, and BOTH.

ABOUT THE DIRECTORS:

Ike Schambelan has been a theatrical director, teacher and critic for over 45 years. He has a bachelor's degree from Swarthmore College and a Doctor of Fine Arts from Yale Drama School. He has directed at the Long Wharf Theatre, the Manhattan Theatre Club, Playwrights Horizons,
The New Dramatists, Equity Library Theatre, the Pittsburgh Public Theater and the George Street Playhouse; and has directed many productions for TBTB. As founder and Artistic Director of TBTB, he has built it for more than 30 years into an Off-Broadway company recognized for doing first-class work. Previous productions include revivals of works by Shakespeare, Shaw and Gurney and new plays, including NY premieres of THE RULES OF CHARITY and A NERVOUS SMILE by
disabled playwright John Belluso, and most recently Kate Moira Ryan's BASS FOR PICASSO.

Kimothy Cruse has directed more than 60 stage productions, including Off-Broadway's FAR OUT...THE MUSICAL and THE OFFICE MURDERS with Austin Pendleton. Christina Roussos's credits include new plays at the American Globe Theater, HB Playwrights Foundation, HB Studio, TBTB
Reading Series, and a recent collaboration with Tony-winning director Jack Hofsiss. Nicholas Viselli has been a TBTB core company member since 1997, performing in nearly every production since that time. SOME OF OUR PARTS marks his TBTB directorial debut.

Theater Breaking Through Barriers, formerly Theater by the Blind, is a critically acclaimed company integrating able-bodied actors with artists with disabilities. Founded in 1979, by Artistic Director Ike Schambelan, the company's mission is to change the image of people with disabilities from one of dependence to independence, to fight stereotypes and misperceptions associated with disability, and to show how vibrant, fluid and exuberant the work of artists with disabilities can be.

SOME OF OUR PARTS runs June 22-30 at Theatre Row's Clurman Theatre (410 West 42nd Street): Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 7pm; Friday at 8pm; Saturday at 3pm and 8pm; Sunday at 3pm. Tickets are $19.25. For reservations, call 212-239-6200 or visit www.telecharge.com.

For additional information, visit www.tbtb.org

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