Tribeca Theater Festival Downtown Plays Announced

THE FIRST ANNUAL TRIBECA THEATER FESTIVAL has announced the nine short plays which together comprise "THE DOWNTOWN PLAYS," running Tuesday, October 19 - Sunday, October 31, 2004 at Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts at Pace University. "THE DOWNTOWN PLAYS," the centerpiece of the Tribeca Theater Festival, is a two-week run of an evening of premiere plays by some of the theater community's leading playwrights.

THE TRIBECA THEATER FESTIVAL, founded by Robert De Niro, JANE ROSENTHAL, and CRAIG HATKOFF, co-founders of the Tribeca Film Festival, in association with the acclaimed Tribeca-based Off-Broadway theater company, DRAMA DEPT., and presented by American Express, celebrates theater by supporting new voices and new work while furthering the organizers' mission for the economic and cultural revitalization of Lower Manhattan. In addition, one of the major focuses of the Festival is the promotion of downtown theatre. With dozens of theaters reportedly below 14th Street, the Tribeca Theater Festival is providing extensive outreach into the downtown theatre community, as well as offering its theatrical neighbors high-visibility promotional opportunities, both on-site at "The Downtown Plays" and on-line at the Festival's website.

Ten actors will play various roles in nine different plays. The cast includes: Joel de la Fuente (David Henry Hwang's Face Value); Ross Gibby (Paul Rudnick's Mr. Charles, Currently of Palm Beach); Josh Hamilton (Kenneth Lonergan's The Waverly Gallery and This is Our Youth); Jackie Hoffman (Hairspray, Obie winner for Book of Liz); Peter Jacobson (June Moon, Picasso at the Lapin Agile), Chris Messina (Far Away, Faster); J. Smith-Cameron (Tony nominee for Our Country's Good, Douglas Carter Beane's As Bees in Honey Drown); Marilyn Torres ("Maid in Manhattan"), Maria Tucci (The Rose Tattoo and The Night of the Iguana on Broadway, Jon Robin Baitz's The Substance of Fire), and Julie White (Wendy Wasserstein's The Heidi Chronicles on Broadway, Dinner with Friends).

"THE DOWNTOWN PLAYS," directed by Tony Award-winner John Rando ("Urinetown") consists of: My Beautiful Goddamn City by Jon Robin Baitz

o A passionate conversation between two sisters and a Tribeca restaurant owner touches on their struggles with grief, political accountability, and life south of 14th Street.

He Meaning Him by Douglas Carter Beane

o Over lunch, an actor and his agent push for the film rights to a new play from an unwilling, anti-Hollywood playwright.

Trying To Find Chinatown by David Henry Hwang

o A chance meeting of two men downtown propels an exploration of legacy and personal identity.

Union Square by Neil LaBute

o A man trying to find his way downtown from Union Square stops to ask directions from a homeless man, and winds up sharing the details of his marriage and the unexpected contents of his lunch bag.

Happy For You by Warren Leight

o Five New Yorkers gather together to watch the Oscars in ambiguous support of their Oscar nominated friend.

True To You by Kenneth Lonergan

o A powerful businessman must convince his devoted secretary to cover for him after the government indicts him for fraud.

Late Night, Early Morning by Frank Pugliese

o Waiting for the subway, a man and a woman attempt to connect early one morning.

Pride and Joy by Paul Rudnick

o A mother lovingly expounds about her diverse children before a support group for parents.

Psyche In Love by Wendy Wasserstein

o At a downtown Bat Mitzvah, the Rabbi tells a colorful story about the human heart and imagination in a word of troubled times.

"THE DOWNTOWN PLAYS" performs Tuesdays through Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 3pm and 8pm, Sundays at 2pm and 7pm, at Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts at Pace University - 3 Spruce Street, between Park Row and Gold. Tickets are $35. For tickets and more information about the FIRST ANNUAL TRIBECA THEATER FESTIVAL, visit www.tribecatheaterfestival.com or www.dramadept.org . Or call (212) 941-2450 (M - F, 9am - 6pm).

OTHER PROGRAMS AT THE FIRST ANNUAL TRIBECA THEATER FESTIVAL: For a complete schedule and updates on all programs, visit www.tribecatheaterfestival.com .