Rhett Rossi's THIS IS THE HOW Set for Playroom Theater, Begin. 10/5

Rhett Rossi's sharp-edged solo play "This Is the How," a coming of age story set in the dark corners of Long Island during the heavy metal '80s of Rossi's youth, begins an exclusive four-week engagement on Monday October 5 at The Playroom Theater, 151 West 46th Street. Directed and co-developed by Kevin Kittle, the Off-Broadway premiere of "This Is the How" opens on Monday October 12 at 7pm and plays through Saturday October 31. For tickets call Ovation Tix at 866/811-4111 or visit www.theplayroomtheater.com

A Bellmore native, Rossi was last seen Off-Broadway in the critically acclaimed "In God's Hat," which he also wrote under the pseudonym Richard Taylor. At the time The New York Times called the play, which was also directed by Kittle, "downright thrilling."

"This Is the How" is Rossi's spikes-up retelling of a family story that made it into the papers, but will probably never be explained. Indulging his early taste for heavy metal, Rossi combines the relentlessly direct storytelling of an Eric Bogosian, with the ribald flourishes of an Ozzy Osbourne, as he introduces us to this lost world just next door. Going behind the headlines "This Is The How" shows us how little we know, even when the memories in question are still dripping wet, and just like yesterday.

Lighting design is by Jeff Carr. The projections are designed by Jean-Louis Droulers.

Rossi's plays have been produced in New York, Chicago and San Francisco. His plays include "Burnt" and "From Red to Black," a runner-up for the Laurents/Hatcher Foundation Award for emerging American playwrights.

Director Kittle has directed several notable Off-Broadway productions, including Philip Ridley's "The Pitchfork Disney;" "Some Voices;" "Blood Potato," and "Beyond the Pale" which earned him Best Director and Best Production nominations in the Origin's 1st Irish Festival. He directed and co-developed "Burnt" with Rossi at The Present Company Theatorium. Most recently he directed "Hot Season" at The Sheen Center for Strange Sun Theater. He is the associate head of acting and the director of performance ensemble at the Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University.

"This Is the How" plays a total of 16 performances from Monday October 5 at 7pm to Saturday October 31 at 3pm, at The Playroom, 151 West 46th Street, with an opening on Monday October 12 at 7pm. During the four consecutive weeks, performances are Monday to Wednesday at 7pm, and Saturday at 3pm. For tickets, which are $30, 866/811-4111, or visit www.theplayroomtheater.com (Running time is 80 minutes.)