JACK FROM ABOVE Set For Kennedy Center; Special VSA Perfs Offered 9/30, 10/1

VSA (The International Organization on Arts and Disability), an affiliate of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, presents as special abridged version of JACK FROM ABOVE -- a new play performed by Tony Award-winning director Jack Hofsiss (THE ELEPHANT MAN) chronicling his life-changing experiences following a near-fatal diving accident -- for two performances only at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts' Family Theatre in Washington, DC (2700 F Street NW) on Thursday, September 30 and Friday, October 1 at 7:30pm.

JACK FROM ABOVE is written and directed by Ethan Silverman.

Based on a story by Jack Hofsiss, JACK FROM ABOVE is a solo show performed by Mr. Hofsiss that tells of his experiences following a life-threatening 1985 accident in a swimming pool on Fire Island that left him paralyzed from the chest down. The play is a tale of life, love, art, the human body, and the human spirit that is equally harrowing and hilarious. Inspired by a trip to China in search of a "miracle cure," the Tony Award-winning director chronicles his recuperation, re-discovery of self, and triumphant return to the theatre.

In 1979, at the age of 28, Jack Hofsiss won a Tony Award for his direction of Bernard Pomerance's THE ELEPHANT MAN, becoming the youngest person at the time to receive such an honor. Additional accolades for his direction of the long-running play, including the Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, New York Drama Critics Award and an OBIE, were garnered. Other notable theatre credits include TOTAL ABANDON and POOR LITTLE LAMBS. Mr. Hofsiss directed the
1982 feature film "I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can," starring Jill Clayburgh; the 1984 TV adaptation of Tennessee Williams' CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, co-starring Jessica Lange and Tommy Lee Jones; and made-for-TV movie FAMILY SECRETS, with Maureen Stapleton and Stephanie Powers. At the height of his success, in 1985, he dove into swimming pool and suffered the life-changing spinal cord injury depicted in JACK FROM ABOVE. Mr. Hofsiss' post-accident directing credits include
Michael Cristofer's THE SHADOW BOX on Broadway at Circle in the Square; Roundabout Theatre Company's 1991 revival of Frank D. Gilroy's THE SUBJECT WAS ROSES with Patrick Dempsey, Dana Ivy and John Mahoney; MTC's THE YEARS; SECONDS OUT at Public Theater; MY NIGHT WITH REG,
Bill C. Davis' AVOW, James Joyce'S THE DEAD; SURVIVING GRACE; KILT; and CONFESSIONS OF A MORMON BOY. He appears in the 2005 documentary "The Needs of Kim Stanley."

Ethan Silverman began writing JACK FROM ABOVE at Yaddo in 2008. The play, based on stories from its subject, has been workshopped at the Baryshnikov Arts Center and Bay Street Theatre. Mr. Silverman adapted and directed Pete Townshend's THE BOY WHO HEARD MUSIC. As a director,
his credits also include LARGO with Cyndi Lauper; Bill Graham PRESENTS with Ron Silver; MERCHANT IVORY AMFAR BENEFIT at Carnegie Hall; Naked Angel's INSTANT GIRL and TUNNEL OF LOVE; John Kelly's LIGHT SHALL LIFT THEM at BAM; and among others, Edward Albee's THE AMERICAN DREAM at Mark Taper Forum. He directed and wrote the screenplay for the short
film "Central Park" and the documentaries "The Waiting Children" and "An Uncommon Love." Currently, he teaches at Parsons The New School For Design. Mr. Silverman began his professional career at the age of 19 as Mr. Hofsiss' assistant on THE ELEPHANT MAN.

VSA is an international nonprofit organization founded more than 35 years ago by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith to create a society where people with disabilities learn through, participate in, and enjoy the arts.

For more than 20 years, VSA's Playwright Discovery Artists Selection Committee has been chaired by Jack Hofsiss. JACK FROM ABOVE will be presented as part of the VSA's 26th Annual Playwright Discovery Evening, on a special double-bill with Laura Hogikyan's award-winning one-act play THE MARIONETTE EFFECT.

JACK FROM ABOVE runs Thursday, September 30 and Friday, October 1 at 7:30pm at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts' Family Theatre (2700 F Street NW) in Washington, DC. Free, but tickets are required. For reservations, call VSA at 202-628-2800 or e-mail
EFKey@vsarts.org with number of tickets requested, the name under which the tickets should be held at the will call table, and any accessibility requests.

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