Abingdon Theatre's The Frugal Repast Begins January 26

Abingdon Theatre Company (312 West 36th Street) will present Ron Hirsen's The Frugal Repast, a new play about a Picasso print that sets off a lively debate within the art world, will open on February 7, 2007. Previews begin January 26. Joe Grifasi directs. 
 
"Two impoverished circus performers – unknowingly the subjects of Picasso's limited edition print – see a copy on display in a Paris gallery. Their outrage at the great artist's invasion of their privacy (and their personal desperation) leads them to steal it. The ransom note asks for a thousand francs – and fuels Picasso, Gertrude Stein, Alice B. Toklas and other real-life significant art-world figures to debate what, exactly, is art's true value. A lively and inspiring new play selected for the 2004 Eugene O'Neill Playwrights and Musical Theatre Conference," according to press notes. 
 
Playwright Ron Hirsen, whose early plays have had readings at Wisdom Bridge and the Goodman Theatre in his native Chicago, saw his play Elegy produced at the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia in 2002. The Frugal Repast, developed at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center in 2004, was a finalist for the Bosakowski Award at Primary Stages and was featured in the New Stages Series at the Goodman Theatre. 
 
Director Joe Grifasi first helmed The Frugal Repast at the 2004 Eugene O'Neill Playwrights Conference. His other credits at the O'Neill include The Importance of Being Orson by Jessica Cooke and The Electric Century by Andrew Case. As an actor he has performed on Broadway in Dinner at Eight, The Mystery of  Edwin Drood, Happy End, The Accidental Death of an Anarchist, and The 1940's Radio Hour. 
 
The cast of The Frugal Repast features Julie Boyd, Roberto DeFelice, Kyrian Friedenberg, Frank Liotti, Dawn Luebbe, Lizbeth MacKay, Kathleen McElfresh, Harold Todd, and David Wohl. 
 
Set design is by Ray Recht; Matthew McCarthy is the lighting designer; costumes are by Karin Beatty; and Graham Johnson is the sound designer. 
 
The Frugal Repast will run Tuesday – Saturday at 7:30PM; Saturday at 2PM and Sunday at 3PM in Abingdon Theatre Company's June Havoc Theatre (312 West 36th Street). Tickets are $35 and can be purchased by calling 212-868-4444 or online at www.Smarttix.com.