Photo Flash: Kahlil Ashanti in 'Basic Training'

Josephson Entertainment, Erich Jungwirth/VoiceChair Productions and Richard Jordan Productions Ltd present the off-Broadway premiere of 'Basic Training,' a new comedy created by and starring Kahlil Ashanti. 'Basic Training' is a hilarious story based on one soldier’s outrageous experience in the U.S. Air Force. Performances began at the Barrow Street Theatre (27 Barrow St. at 7th Avenue, 1 block south of Christopher Street, New York) on Friday, Sept. 26th with an official opening on Monday, October 13th.

'Basic Training' chronicles Ashanti’s amazing tour as a member of the elite entertainment troupe “Tops In Blue” in the U.S. Air Force.  A life altering event forces his attention home to face the childhood he tried to forget.  Ashanti plays twenty-three unforgettable characters that tell his funny true story.

With production supervision by Hal Brooks, the lighting design is by Tyler Micoleau.

Winner of the 2004 Montreal and Vancouver Fringe Festivals and the 2005 Edinburgh Fringe Festival Spirit of the Fringe and Scotsman Fringe First Award, 'Basic Training' had its premiere in October 2004 in Los Angeles.

Tickets for 'Basic Training' are $35. The performance schedule is as follows: Monday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 7:00 p.m. with matinees Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 p.m.  Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.smarttix.com or calling (212) 868-4444. 'Basic Training' has a special military discount of $20.

Kahlil Ashanti was born in Germany, raised in Japan, and is now living in Vancouver, with many other places in between, Kahlil Ashanti has plenty of material for his dramatic endeavors.  In order to escape an abusive childhood, Kahlil enlisted in the Air Force in 1992, where he performed with Tops In Blue, an elite Air Force performance troupe that entertained troops in over 17 countries and 46 states each year.  After leaving the Air Force, Kahlil landed his own dinner theatre show at Caesar's Palace Las Vegas. Although Kahlil points to stand-up comedy as his foundation, his drama training with actor Jeffrey Tambor is still a large factor in shaping his performance.  After selling out the Edinburgh Fringe in 2005 and 2007 and winning the Scotsman Fringe First Award, "Basic Training" is receiving its Off-Broadway run.  In addition, 'Basic Training' is in development as a feature film with Josephson/20th Century Fox, as well as a book and a television series. www.kahlilashanti.com

For more information, visit: www.BasicTrainingNYC.com

 

Kahlil Ashanti

Kahlil Ashanti

Kahlil Ashanti

Kahlil Ashanti

Kahlil Ashanti

Kahil Ashanti

Photos by Julian Rad