AT THE FLASH to Make NYC Premiere at 2016 FringeNYC

At The Flash, a fast-paced dramatic comedy that depicts the history of a gay bar as seen through five stories that ricochet and collide over five eras of gay history, will make its New York City premiere in the 2016 New York International FRINGE Festival.

The action begins in the present day, as Rod prepares for the grand reopening of The Flash, a gay bar. Traveling back to 1965, THE FLASH is an unassuming hole-in-the-wall. Richard, a husband and father of three, struggles with his sexual identity amid a raid. Moving forward to 1979, Miss Sparkle, an aging drag queen, recounts the significance, struggle, and lessons of Stonewall. In 1989, Derrick dances, drinks, and drugs the night away while waiting for the results of an HIV test. In 1996, Mona fights an uphill against the Defense of Marriage Act to lay the groundwork for recent strides in the LGBTQ community. One of just 32 FringeNYC shows chosen for publication by Indie Theater Now, At THE FLASH examines the importance of remembering where we've been, where we are, and where we need to go.

At THE FLASH is written by David Leeper and Sean Chandler, directed by David Zak, and performed by David Leeper.

Leeper has performed At THE FLASH under the direction of David Zak for its Jeff Recommended world premiere in Chicago, its West Coast premiere in Los Angeles, and its international debut in Dublin where David was nominated for the Michael Mac Liammoir Award for Best Male Performance. Past productions include leading roles in David Mamet's Oleanna, Landford Wilson's Fifth of July, and Tom Dudzick's Greetings.

Chandler's works include At THE FLASH (PFP Great Gay Play and Musical CONTEST Winner, Jeff Recommendation, Oscar Wilde Best New Writing Award Finalist), Radical Morality (Nicholl Fellowship Quarter-Finalist, Creative World Awards Semi-Finalist, PFP Great Gay Screenplay CONTEST Semi-Finalist), and Kissing The Frog Prince (Scriptoid Writers Challenge, ALL ACCESS Screenwriters Competition & The Screenplay Festival Semi-Finalist).

Zak's work has been won 7 Joseph Jefferson Awards in Chicago, including four for Directing (Animal Farm, Dr. Sex, Parade, Pope Joan), two for writing (The Hiroshima Project, The Count of Monte Cristo) and a special Jeff for "Fostering Diversity in Chicago Theater." He has directed in Boston (Sin: A Cardinal Deposed), Los Angeles (Dr. Sex) and New York (Marlowe, Poseidon: An Upside Down Musical). In Europe his work has been seen in London (The Irish Curse) and Dublin (Oh, Holy Allen Ginsberg). He cultivates new LGBT screenplays and scripts in his roles as Executive Director of Pride Films and Plays, Chicago, and Artistic Director of Summer Pride Fest at Chandler (VT). David spent 27 years as Artistic Director of Bailiwick Repertory Theatre.

Performances will be held on Saturday, August 13 at 8pm; Thursday, August 18 at 4:45pm, Friday, August 19 at 4pm; Sunday, August 21 at 2:45pm; and Wednesday, August 24 at 9pm. At THE FLASH will be presented at Under St. Mark's, located at 94 St. Mark's Place in New York City. Tickets ($18) are available by visiting www.AtTheFlash.com.