MTC To Present World Premiere of Pisoni's HUMOR ABUSE, Opens 3/10

Manhattan Theatre Club has announced the world premiere of Humor Abuse, the new one-man-show created by performer Lorenzo Pisoni (Equus, Last Dance) and director Erica Schmidt (Debbie Does Dallas).

Humor Abuse will begin previews on Thursday, February 19 and open Tuesday, March 10 in a limited engagement 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 will be announced shortly.

Lorenzo Pisoni's Broadway performing credits include Equus, 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), 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.

Erica Schmidt's 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).

Photo by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.