THE RADICALIZATION OF ROLFE Heads to Fringe Encore Series 2016 at Soho Playhouse

The Radicalization of Rolfe, winner of 2016 FringeNYC Overall Excellence Award, re-opens as part of the Fringe Encore Series 2016 at The Soho Playhouse, 15 Vandam Street, New York City on Sunday, October 23, 2016.

Written by Andrew Bergh and directed by Abigail Zealey Bess, The Radicalization of Rolfe is inspired by the backstory of the lesser-known but vital secondary characters in the legendary musical The Sound of Music.

Performances for The Radicalization of Rolfe will take place at The Soho Playhouse, 15 Vandam Street, New York City on: Sun Oct 23, 2016 | 7:00PM; Mon Oct 24, 2016 | 8:00PM; Wed Oct 26, 2016 | 7:00PM; Thu Oct 27, 2016 | 9:00PM; and Sat Oct 29, 2016 | 3:00PM.

The play takes place in Salzburg, Austria, in the last golden days of the 1930's. Messenger boy, Rolfe, 17 going on 18, is trying to make his way in the Third Reich and rise in the new order, but has been stuck delivering messages to a certain widowed Austrian Naval Captain with seven children at his Villa. There he flirts with the Captain's eldest daughter, under the watchful eye of the children's new governess from nearby Nonnberg Abbey. He quickly discovers that the conflicts between his ambition and his sexuality pose life and death consequences.

The cast includes Polly Adams as Frau Schmidt, Dominic Comperatore as Herr Zeller, Alex J. Gould as Johan, Jay Paterson as Franz and Logan Sutherland as Rolfe.

Andrew Bergh is a NYC based playwright, whose plays include: Bliss, Waiting ("Critic's Choice" winner 2003 Samuel French Festival), Jane of the Tree and The Domesticated Queer.

Abigail Zealey Bess is an award winning filmmaker and theatre director with a résumé that features work with the legendary Sidney Lumet, John Leguizamo, Kevin Smith, Matt LeBlanc, Frank Whaley, Bruce Beresford and many others. Her work has crossed boundaries and platforms for many years as an independent director and producer in film and theatre.

The Radicalization of Rolfe re-opens as part of the Fringe Encore Series 2016 at The Soho Playhouse, 15 Vandam Street, New York City on Sunday, October 23, 2016. The play runs through Saturday, October 29th. Tickets are $18. Visit www.facebook.com/RadRolfe for more information and tickets.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

Polly Adams* (Frau Schmidt) has extensive theater credits including: Broadway, Nina ( lead) in Zalmen or The Madness of God (by Elie Wiesel), Gert in Lost in Yonkers (1st National Tour), and leads in numerous Off-Off Broadway and regional plays for over 35 years - most notably at The Ensemble Studio Theatre, where she is a founding member. TV credits include numerous featured roles in all 3 "Law and Order's," "New York News" (w/ Mary Tyler Moore), "The Wright Verdicts" (w/Tom Conti), "Now and Again," "Players," "The Edge of Night," "Search for Tomorrow," "All My Children," "Conan O'Brien" and "David Letterman." Featured roles in film include People I Know (w/ Al Pacino), The Juror (w/ Demi Moore and Alec Baldwin), New York Crossing (w/ Giancarlo Giannini), Celebrity ( w/ Charlize Theron and Kenneth Branagh, dir/Woody Allen), David and Layla (Judith Fine, lead), and Paul Greengrass's award-winning United 93( Debbie Welsh, Purser.) She played Tilda Swinton's friend, Mary Woolford, in We Need To Talk About Kevin and can be seen most recently as Owen Wilson's Mother-in-law in Peter Bogdanovich's She's Funny That Way.

Dominic Comperatore* (Herr Zeller) has acted on many stages from Broadway to Los Angeles and has appeared on the small screen in several shows including Blue Bloods, The Good Wife, and HBO's Show Me A Hero. He has appeared on the big screen a number of times, too, including Steven Soderbergh's The Good German. He will not be playing a good German tonight.

Alex J. Gould* (Johan) is an actor and fight director in NYC. Off-Broadway: The Woodsman (New World Stages/59E59). Other credits include Student Body, The Mysteries, a cautionary tale, Thomas Bradshaw's Job, #serials@theflea (Flea Theater). Regional/ International: Whaddabloodclot by Katori Hall Williamstown), Edinburgh Fringe 2015. Readings/ workshops: McCarter Theater, Rattlestick Theater, Guild Hall, Jewish Plays Project. Education: AMDA

Jay Patterson* (Franz) Broadway: K2, ( Outer Critic's Circle Nom.) Inherit The Wind, Off-Broadway: CSC, McGinn-Cazale, Mint Theater, NYTW, 59E59, Roundabout. Regional: Arena Stage, Guthrie, ASOLO Rep, Baltimore Center Stage, McCarter, NY Stage and Film, Yale Rep. Pittsburgh Public, Cincinnati Playhouse, ACT Seattle. TV: L&O (all 3, SVU recurring) BrainDead, The Woody Allen Amazon Project, Blue Bloods. He has appeared in more than 40 films. Nine Lives in theaters now, and Oppenheimer Strategies due in 2017.

LOGAN SUTHERLAND (Rolfe) Fringe NYC Debut. You may have seen him on stage in Sex & Education (Penguin Rep) or on screen in Blue Bloods (CBS), Tough Love (Web Series) or To Whom It May Concern (short). He is currently shooting an independent feature film (Nick & Nicky) and writing a comedy series. Many thanks to his friends, family and the wonderful people at Wolf Talent Group for their unwavering support. For more: logansutherland.com.

ANDREW BERGH (Author) is a NYC based playwright and the author of Bliss, Waiting ("Critic's Choice" winner 2003 Samuel French Festival), Somewhere in the Middle, Kisses, Jane of the Tree, The Domesticated Queer, The Last Day of Limbo, Lamentations of a Sinner among many others. Member, The Dramatists Guild. Many thanks to the Works In Progress Group and all who have contributed to this production.

ABIGAIL ZEALEY BESS (Director) Abigail has worked extensively in theatre and film throughout Europe and USA. Her Production Company, Weird Sisters, specializes in developing theatrical and feature film projects dedicated to women's voices and occasionally men's. Recent Directing credits include Award winning film Mary and Louise and Icarus Stops For Breakfast due for release in Fall 2016. She is on the Faculty for the Graduate Film Program at Tisch School of the Arts, NYU and is represented by Linda Weaver at Access Talent. www.weirdsistersfilms.com

Emily Grayson (Stage Manager & Lighting Designer) is a freelance stage manager/ theatre technician. Recent stage management credits include Holy Moly (The Flea Theatre), The Jungle Book (La Mama), Driving Miss Daisy (The Players Theatre), A Little Night Music (Theatre 2020), Privatopia (LaGuardia Performing Arts Center), and Merrily We Roll Along (Dir. James Lapine, City Center; PA). She is also a theatre tech specialist at the Sylvia and Danny Kaye Playhouse. Upcoming: Frankenstein (The Players Theatre).

AUDREY NAUMAN (costume designer) Recent design credits include Mope, The Triple Threat, and Empathitrax (Ensemble Studio Theater/Youngblood). Other work with EST includes the 35th Marathon of One-Act Plays and 5 Times in One Night. Additional work: La Fedeltà Premiata (upcoming, The Juilliard School), A Lover's Tale (Berkshire Theatre Festival), and Tender Napalm (59e59). Assistant costume design: Ghost the Musical (Broadway), In the Heights (2nd National Tour), and many productions at Juilliard via their Professional Apprentice Program (2013).

HEATHER HELPRIN (Graphic Designer) is a freelance graphic designer and illustrator based in Rockland County, NY. Her most recent work can be seen on the packaging of various products sold in Bed, Bath & Beyond, Target, Home Goods and more.

GLENN KRUTOFF (Producer) likes to wear many hats (although he doesn't look particularly good in hats). He is a real estate lawyer in practice in NYC as well as a Producer, Playwright & Director. Producer: Two Parents, Two Weddings, Two Years; Love! Valour! Compassion! Director: Love! Valour! Compassion! Pride's Crossing, Eastern Standard and Prelude to a Kiss (all T. Schreiber Studio), and the world premieres of Andrew Bergh's Bliss (Chelsea Playhouse) and Waiting... ("Critic's Choice" Winner 2003 Samuel French Festival) and Eat Those Words (EST). Playwright: Life Happens (T. Schreiber), The Garden Variety, and co-author (W/ Joseph Furnari) of Out of Time (Fringe NYC 2001).