HUMOR ABUSE Begins Rehearsals Today 2/3 At MTC

The Manhattan Theatre Club (Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director; Barry Grove, Executive Producer) production of HUMOR ABUSE, the new one-man-show created by Lorenzo Pisoni (Equus, Last Dance) and Erica Schmidt (Debbie Does Dallas), begins rehearsals today. HUMOR ABUSE stars Pisoni with direction by Schmidt.

This world premiere production will begin previews on Thursday, February 19 and open on Tuesday, March 10 in a limited engagement at MTC at New York City Center - Stage II (131 West 55th Street).

HUMOR ABUSE is the unique story of Pisoni's upbringing as the youngest member of the Pickle Family Circus, the Bay Area's tiny big top that entertained thousands of people worldwide and launched the careers of several legendary performers. Filled with the clowning that Pisoni learned at his father's knee, and the wonder, heartache and complexity of stepping into (and out of) his father's shoes, HUMOR ABUSE shows that running away with the circus isn't always all fun and games.

The creative team for HUMOR ABUSE includes: Ben Stanton (lighting design), Bart Fasbender (sound design) and David Caparelliotis (casting).

Under the leadership of Artistic Director Lynne Meadow and Executive Producer Barry Grove, MTC has become one of the country's most prominent and prestigious theatre companies. MTC productions have earned a total of 16 Tony Awards and five Pulitzer Prizes, an accomplishment unparalleled by a New York theatrical institution. Renowned MTC productions include Top Girls; From Up Here; Come Back, Little Sheba; The Receptionist; LoveMusik; Blackbird; Translations; Shining City; Rabbit Hole; Doubt; Proof; The Tale of the Allergist's Wife; Kimberly Akimbo; Love! Valour! Compassion!; Sylvia; Four Dogs and a Bone; Putting It Together; Lips Together, Teeth Apart; Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune; Crimes of the Heart; and Ain't Misbehavin'.

This season, MTC's Broadway stage was renamed the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street). The landmarked theatre has been the institution's home on Broadway since 2003 and was rehabilitated by MTC following a two-year, $35 million capital campaign. In addition, MTC operates two theatres at New York City Center (131 West 55th Street), its Off-Broadway home since 1984.

For more information on Manhattan Theatre Club, please visit www.ManhattanTheatreClub.com.

TICKETING INFORMATION
Via New York City Center Box Office (131 West 55th Street), City Tix® (212-581-1212) and www.nycitycenter.org: Single tickets for all Manhattan Theatre Club productions at New York City Center are available by calling CityTix® at (212) 581-1212, by visiting www.nycitycenter.org or by going to the New York City Center box office. Tickets are $52.00. Group and student rates are also available. For group ticket information, call (212) 399-3000 x 4132. Student tickets are $25 and will be on sale for all performances based on availability on the day of the performance, up to one hour before showtime. Call (212) 581-1212 for further information. MTC at New York City Center is accessible to people with disabilities and is equipped with a hearing augmentation system.
MTC Subscriptions: You can subscribe to MTC by calling (212) 399-3030, Monday - Friday, noon - 8 PM, with a major credit card. Subscriptions are available online at www.ManhattanTheatreClub.com.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
· THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19 - SUNDAY, JANUARY 22: Thursday through Sunday at 7:30 PM. Matinee on Sunday at 2:30 PM. Please note there will only be five performances during this partial week.
· MONDAY, JANUARY 23 - SUNDAY, MARCH 15: Tuesday through Sunday at 7:30 PM. Matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 PM.
· MONDAY, MARCH 16 - SUNDAY, MARCH 29: Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 PM. Matinees on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 PM.
· MONDAY, MARCH 30 - SUNDAY, APRIL 5: Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 PM. Matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 PM. Please note that only seven performances are on sale to the general public this week.
· TUESDAY, APRIL 7 - SUNDAY, APRIL 12: Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 PM. Matinees on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 PM.

BIOGRAPHIES
Lorenzo Pisoni. Broadway: Equus (Broadhurst), Henry IV (LCT). Off-Broadway: Devil's Disciple (Irish Rep), Election Day (Second Stage, Lortel nomination), Last Dance (MTC), As You Like It (The Public), Much Ado About Nothing (NYSF/The Public), Troilus and Cressida (TFNA). Regional: The Injured Party (South Coast Rep), The Great Gatsby (Guthrie/Seattle Rep), Tuesdays With Morrie (Seattle Rep), The Tempest (McCarter), The Illusion (NJ Shakespeare Festival), Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare & Co.), The Gamester (ACT, Bay Area Critics nomination), Arms and the Man (BSC). Film: Company Retreat, South of Pico. Other credits include A Midsummer Night's Dream (Lincoln Center/NY Phil), Pickle Family Circus, Cirque du Soleil. Education: Vassar College. Member of Actors' Equity.

Erica Schmidt (Director). Directing credits include: Rent (Tokyo); Chekhov's Uncle Vanya, Gilbert and Sullivan's The Sorcerer and Copland's The Tender Land (all at Bard Summer Scape); Carnival (The Paper Mill Playhouse); People Be Heard (Playwrights Horizons); Trust (The Play Company, Callaway Award nominee); As You Like It (The Public Theater/NYSF, chashama and New York International Fringe Festival 2000 Winner for Best Direction); Debbie Does Dallas (wrote the adaptation and directed Off-Broadway at the Jane Street); Spanish Girl (Second Stage Uptown); Romeo and Juliet (Outdoor Garage). College and University work includes: Buried Child and R&J (The Juilliard School); Fair Ladies at a Game of Poem Cards (The McCarter's Berlind Theater, Princeton University); Top Girls (Fordham University). Upcoming: The Burnt Part Boys (The Vineyard).

www.ManhattanTheatreClub.com