South Ark Stage and kef Productions Presents World Premiere of LYRIC IS WAITING at Irish Rep 7/30 - 8/22

South Ark Stage (Rhoda Herrick, Producing/Artistic Director) and kef productions will present the World Premiere of Lyric is Waiting by Michael Puzzo, directed by Adam Fitzgerald. This production will begin Thursday, July 30; Opening on Sunday, August 2 and will run through August 22, 2009 and take place at The Irish Repertory Theatre (132 West 22nd Street). 

Press notes state, "A mysteriously sad tale, Lyric is Waiting follows a young, passionate couple's as they struggle to contain their love that will either be their salvation or their untimely destruction. Racing against the dawn, the couple, a sexy Librarian and Bigfoot, survive break-ups, mental breakdowns, a stint with Catholicism, food issues, and an unnatural obsession with a Nirvana song. Michael Puzzo's Lyric is Waiting is a fast paced, darkly comic drama that explores the question, "When we play the hero, who are we really saving?"

Cast includes: LORI PRINCE as Lyric (MTC's Sarah, Sarah Regional: Pride and Prejudice, Rocket City) and Kelly McAndrew as Librarian (Broadway's Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with Ned Beatty, Films: Everybody's Fine Superheroes) BRIT WHITTLE ("30 Rock," Keen Company's In the Matter of Robert Oppenheimer), more cast to be announced. Creative team includes: Chris Bailey (Lighting and Sound Design), Joel Sherry (Scenic Design) and Jessica Pabst (Costume Design).

MICHAEL PUZZO (Playwright) is a writer and actor living in NYC. He has been a member of LAByrinth Theater Company since 1997. His play The Dirty Talk ("very smart and well-crafted production," "one of the most satisfying and entertaining shows currently in New York" -NY Theatre) (Fringe NYC & Centerstage NY) is published by Dramatist Play Service and was nominated for an Innovative Theater Award for best script in 2007. His plays Guaranteed Second Base, She Talks to Rainbows, and Faster Beats the Furious Heart have all been part of LAByrinth's annual Barn Series Festival (Public Theater) His one acts include The Horse Shoe King of Jersey City (HBO Aspen Comedy Festival) and The 11am Girl Says Goodnight (Access Theater). As an actor Michael has appeared in Philip Roth in Khartoum by David Bar Katz and Penalties And Interest by Rebecca Cohen, both directed by John Gould Rubin (Public Theater) Dirty Story written & directed by John Patrick Shanley, A Winter Party by John Patrick Shanley & directed by John Gould Rubin, In Arabia We'd All Be Kings by Stephen Adly Guirgis & directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman and recently the film Doubt written & directed by John Patrick Shanley.

ADAM FITZGERALD (Director) is a founding member of kef productions. He is currently the Robert Moss Directing Resident at Playwrights Horizons serving as assistant director to Wilson Milam, Bartlett Sher and Kate Whoriskey on premieres of plays by Nicky Silver (Three Changes with Maura Tierney), Craig Lucas (Prayer for my Enemy with Victoria Clark, Michelle Pawk and Jonathan Groff) and Christina Anderson (Inked Baby with LaChanze). Prior to Playwrights Horizons: South Ark Stage as Associate Producing/Artistic Director and General Manager on the New York premiere of The Bully Pulpit; General Manager on She Can't Believe She Said That! in NYMF; Artistic Associate at Playhouse West (where his production of Defiance garnered SF Bay Area Critics Circle nominations for Best Director and Best Production and was named in the Top Ten Productions of 2007 by the Contra Costa Times). Adam (with kef productions) was an Associate Producer on the revival of Israel Horovitz' Lebensraum (Drama Desk Award for Ensemble Performance) and formerly the Associate General Manager of Theatre Row Studios. Other recent directing credits include EST Youngbloods, Infinite Joy - The Songs of William Finn (benefit concert, Las Vegas), Playhouse West, 12 Miles West, kef productions, Diverse City Theater, First Look Theatre Co. (NYU) and the San Francisco Theater Festival.

KEF PRODUCTIONS (Producer), founded by Adam Fitzgerald and Lori Prince in 2002, strives to raise standards and produce theatre that is exciting and relevant to both the audience and the artists. Recent work includes Associate Producer on the Drama Desk Award winning production (Ensemble Performance) of Israel Horovitz' Lebensraum and the composer/lyricist showcase, Artists Rising at Theatre Row.

SOUTH ARK STAGE (Producer) Started in 2007, South Ark Stage was founded by Producing/Artistic Director Rhoda Herrick to produce exciting new voices in the theatre as well as dynamic voices of the past. None of the Above was its first production, followed by The Bully Pulpit (an exciting evening with Teddy Roosevelt incarnate!), The Black Monk (a fairy tale based on a Chekhov short story by playwright Wendy Kesselman and featuring Austin Pendleton) and this past spring's production of Sophistry.

Tickets are $18 and can be purchased by calling 212-727-2737 or visit www.kefproductions.com.

Photo: Lori Prince