Black Lab Theatre to Stage ASSISTANCE, Begin. 9/19

In anticipation of the new NBC hit comedy sitcom based on the hit off-Broadway play Assistance, Black Lab Theatre opens its doors on September 19, 2013, with the regional premiere of the original work -- a hilarious single act play that revolves around entry level, 20-somethings frantically trying to please their hellacious boss as calls and drama ring in. The play's TV adaptation (to star Krysten Ritter and Alfred Molina) hits the TV's on NBC later this season with Will Ferrell's Gary Sanchez Productions producing and play's author Leslye Headland signed on as chief writer. Headland herself began her career as the assistant to legendary Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein and captures the angst of a new generation trying to hit the financial big time, one post-it at a time. This "The Office" meets "The Devil Wears Prada" Off-Broadway comedy about ambition-driven Generation-Y staffers will run at Wildfish Theater in the Galleria Area September 19 through Oct 5 at 8pm on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays plus a Monday Industry Night on Sept 30.

"Everyone knows someone who has had a horrible boss," notes Jordan Jaffe, Black Lab Theatre artistic director who is honoring his peers with a new season dedicated to the struggles of graduating from college in the post Millennial recession years. "But in this economy, you cannot afford to lose your job, no matter how much you don't like the man upstairs. The humor and bite of the play comes from what each character is willing to do to get ahead of each other to please the boss from hell."

Assistance will be directed by Black Lab Artistic Director Jordan Jaffe, and feature Adam Gibbs (Alley Theatre: Ether Dome, The Man Who Came to Dinner; Stages Rep: Yankee Tavern), Rebekah Stevens Gibbs (Alley Theatre: Death of a Salesman, Ether Dome; Stages Rep: Next to Normal), Lindsay Ehrhardt (Black Lab: boom; Main Street: Coast of Utopia), Tim Ashby (Landing Theatre: Exit 27), Emily Campion, and Jaffe in a cameo role.

Assistance will run at Wildfish Theater in the Galleria Area September 19 through Oct 5 at 8pm on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. A Monday Industry Night performance is scheduled for Sept 30 at 8pm. Notes Jaffe: "It's a fast, fun play and the perfect pre-game before a night on the town in Houston."

Founded in 2011 by Rice University graduate Jordan Jaffe, Black Lab Theatre focuses on bringing newer, socially conscious shows to audiences in fresh and innovative ways. For more information, please contact artistic director Jordan Jaffe at 713-417-3552.

General admission tickets are available for each show as well as season ticket packages. Tickets may be purchased at the door, by phone or via www.blacklabtheatre.com. Box office number: 713-515-4028

For more information visit www.blacklabtheatre.com, www.facebook.com/BlackLabTheatre or www.twitter.com/BlackLabTheatre.