Cast Announced For 'American Girls'

It has been announced that Hilary Bettis and Kira Sternbach will star in the upcoming production of American Girls.  American Girls will begin previews on Thursday, April 3rd with Opening Night set for Sunday, April 6th at the 45th Street Theater. The play is the story of two 14-year-old mid-western girls (Hilary Bettis and Kira Sternbach) who are on a collision course with pop culture and faith.

Hilary Bettis' Off Broadway credits include the world premiere of Pat Blake's First Date at the 2007 Seaport Summer Theatre Festival. Kira Sternbach originated the role of Jennifer in the workshop of Neil LaBute's In A Dark, Dark House directed by Jo Bonney.  She was featured in Clay McLeod Chapman's The Interstate And On at the Seaport Summer Theatre Festival and appeared in Charles Grodin's "At Home With Bill" at Arclight theatre.  She was nominated for a NY Independent Theatre Award as Best Featured Actress for "How I Learned To Drive."

In American Girls, her first play, Ms. Bettis draws on her experience working in the adult entertainment industry (in this case, strip clubs) to explore what would happen if innocent 14-year-old girls, growing up in America's heartland, rationalized their love of Jesus with an obsessive desire for fame.  According to director Jeff Cohen, "Hilary manages to capture a cultural collision – girls caught between the Faith-based culture and the Sex industry.  Like Christopher Shinn's Four and Tristine Skyler's The Moonlight Room, Ms. Bettis is an exciting, authentic new playwriting voice. "

American Girls will begin performances Thursday, April 3rd and open Sunday, April 6th at The 45th Street Theater, 354 W. 45th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues). Performances will be Wednesday through Friday at 8 pm, Saturday at 2 and 8 pm and Sunday at 5 pm.  Tickets for all performances will be $55  and can be purchased by calling SMARTTIX at (212) 868-4444 or online at www.smarttix.com.