New WWII Drama THE REPORT to Open Off-Broadway

A haunting new world premiere drama, THE REPORT, will be presented August 15 - 28 in the New York International Fringe Festival. Based on the novel by Jessica Francis Kane, THE REPORT is adapted by Martin Casella, whose THE IRISH CURSE earned the Outstanding Playwriting Award in the 2005 FringeNYC and went on to a highly acclaimed Off-Broadway run. The director is Alan Muraoka, whose credits include FALSETTOLAND (NAATCO), KARAOKE STORIES and "Sesame Street."

THE REPORT examines the true, unknown story of the British government's cover-up of the largest civilian disaster of World War II. On March 3, 1943, 173 people died in London's Bethnal Green tube station, which served as a bomb shelter during air raids. But not a single bomb was dropped that fateful night. The cause of this tragedy was kept secret for almost 30 years, until a young BBC journalist making a documentary began to uncover what actually took place. As the truth is revealed, we discover how trauma, fear and the paranoia of war impact our very humanity, and how the specter of a single public calamity resonates throughout multiple generations.

THE REPORT features Michael Countryman ("Boardwalk Empire," "The Sopranos," A FEW GOOD MEN, LAUGHTER ON THE 23rd FLOOR, THE COMMON PURSUIT, YOU CAN COUNT ON ME) along with a company of British, Welsh, Canadian and American actors including Philippa Dawson, Denny Desmarias, Clemmie Evans, Natalie Frost, Jenny Green, Louis Lavoie, James Physick, Sophie Sorensen, Jonathan Stephens, Zoë Watkins, David Wells and Stuart Williams.

Martin Casella's recent theater credits, in addition to the Off-Broadway and worldwide productions of THE IRISH CURSE, include the award-winning DIRECTIONS FOR RESTORING THE APPARENTLY DEAD and SCITUATE. He is the screenwriter of TOM'S DAD starring Will Ferrell and directed by Lasse Hallstrom, and THE LAND OF SOMETIMES, an animated British feature film.

Scenic design for THE REPORT is by Lauren Helpern, with costume design by Brian Hemesath, lighting design by Michael O'Connor and sound design by Chris Cassano.

The performance schedule will be Saturday August 15 at 3:15 pm, Tuesday August 18 at 9:45 pm, Monday August 24 at 4:30 pm, Thursday August 27 at 4:15 pm and Friday August 28 at 9:00 pm at Venue 13: Lynn Redgrave Theater@Culture Project located at 45 Bleecker Street.

THE REPORT is being presented by Barry Goralnick, Sarahbeth Grossman, Craig Zehms in association with Cutting Hedge Productions. For information & tickets visit www.FringeNYC.org. For more information about THE REPORT, please visit www.TheReportThePlay.com.

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