Celebrated UK Playwright Robert Holman to Host Talkback at JONAH AND OTTO

Celebrated UK playwright Robert Holman is making his New York debut with Jonah and Otto, which officially opens next Wednesday, February 8th at The Lion Theatre at Theatre Row, 410 West 42 Street. He will be hosting a very special Q&A with the audience after tomorrow's preview matinee. Under the direction of Geraldine Hughes, Jonah and Otto stars Sean Gormley (ARISTOCRATS, THE DEVIL'S DISCIPLE, "Person of Interest," "Treme") and Rupert Simonian ("Foyle's War," "Ashes to Ashes," "Murdoch Mysteries," THE CONSTANT GARDNER).

In 2003, Jonah is 26, Otto, 57-two men different in every way. But not everything is what it seems when their two lives collide one summer's night in a mysterious walled garden on the south coast of England. As their stories of love and loss unravel in front of us and memories of the past unturned come to light, on parting, neither can be the same again. Robert Holman's "intricately layered creation, brimming with emotional wonder" (The Independent) is a deeply humane, funny and ultimately haunting exploration of what it is to be alive.

Renowned playwright Robert Holman is an acknowledged inspiration for many of the younger generation of British playwrights including, most notably, David Eldridge and Simon Stephens (CURIOUS INCIDENT WITH THE DOG IN THE NIGHT, HEISENBERG, PUNK ROCK). In 2010, the three collaborated on A THOUSAND STARS EXPLODE IN THE SKY at the Lyric Hammersmith. Robert Holman's plays have been produced at the Royal Shakespeare Company, The National Theatre, Royal Court Theatre, Donmar Warehouse, Bush Theatre, and throughout the UK. Internationally, Robert Holman has had his work produced in Chicago, L.A. and Tokyo, among other cities. He has served as resident dramatist at both the RSC and the National Theatre.

Director Geraldine Hughes is also an actress whose career has spanned Broadway (JERUSALEM, TRANSLATIONS), Off-Broadway (MOLLY SWEENEY, PUMPGIRL), films (GRAN TORINO, ROCKY BALBOA, DUPLEX), and TV ("The Good Wife," "The Blacklist," "ER," "Nurse Jackie"). She received the Los Angeles Ovation, Garland and Drama Critics Circle Awards for Outstanding Performance for her solo play BELFAST BLUES, which she also wrote and which ran Off-Broadway at the Culture Project and Barrow Street.

Set design for JONAH AND OTTO is by Ann Beyersdorfer, with lighting design by Kate Bashore, costume design by Katie Sue Nicklos, and sound design by Ian Wehrle.

The playing schedule is Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8pm, with matinees Saturday at 2pm and Sunday at 3pm through February 25th. Tickets are $50 and are available through www.Telecharge.com 212-239-6200. Student tickets (with valid student ID) are available for $23. JONAH AND OTTO is being presented Off-Broadway by Lost Tribe Theatre (www.losttribetheatrefilm.com) and Firefly Theater & Films (www.fireflyinc.com).