The Public Theater Extends GATZ Through 11/14

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced today that it would extend GATZ, the critically acclaimed theatrical adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, by two weeks due to extraordinary demand. Performances haven't even begun yet for this highly-anticipated show created by Elevator Repair Service and directed by John Collins. GATZ will begin previews on Sunday, September 26 and run through Sunday, November 14 with an official press opening on Wednesday, October 6. Single tickets go on sale on Tuesday, August 24.

One morning in the office of a mysterious small business, an employee finds a copy of The Great Gatsby in the clutter of his desk. He starts to read it out loud, and doesn't stop. At first his coworkers hardly notice. But after a series of strange coincidences, it's no longer clear whether he's reading the book or the book is transforming him. GATZ is a theatrical and literary tour de force, not a retelling of the Gatsby story but an enactment of the novel itself. Over the course of a single 6 1/2 hour production, Fitzgerald's American masterpiece is delivered word for word, startlingly brought to life by a low-rent office staff in the midst of their inscrutable business operations.

"Elevator Repair Service is one of our most brilliant and imaginative American theater companies, and GATZ is a miraculous creation," said Public Theater Artistic Director Oskar Eustis. "The Public is proud to be presenting this extraordinary theatrical experience, a thrilling meditation on the American dream. This is one of the landmark productions of the last decade; we will be talking about it for decades to come."

GATZ was created and developed by its ensemble, which includes Laurena Allan (Myrtle), Jim Fletcher (Jim), Ross Fletcher (Henry C. Gatz), Mike Iveson (Ewing), Vin Knight (Chester), Aaron Landsman (George), Annie McNamara (Catherine), Kate Scelsa (Lucille), Scott Shepherd (Nick), Susie Sokol (Jordan), Victoria Vazquez (Daisy), Ben Williams (Michaelis), and Gary Wilmes (Tom).

GATZ features scenic design by Louisa Thompson, costume design by Colleen Werthmann, lighting design by Mark Barton, and sound design by Ben Williams.

John Collins (Director) founded Elevator Repair Service with his first production, Mr. Antipyrine, Fire Extinguisher. In the 18 years since, he has directed or co-directed all of the company's shows. From 1993 to 2006 he worked for The Wooster Group as a sound designer, receiving two Drama Desk nominations and two Bessie Awards. As a lighting designer, he won a Bessie Award for his design of Elevator Repair Service's Room Tone.

LAURENA ALLAN (Myrtle) has performed extensively in downtown New York. She performed internationally as Wife in Richard Maxwell's House and is the creator of "Laurena's Pancake Party."

JIM FLETCHER (Jim) performed in Elevator Repair Service's The Sound and the Fury (tour). He has performed in many Richard Maxwell productions and with the New York City Players. He also works with the English theater group Forced Entertainment.

ROSS FLETCHER (Henry C. Gatz) is the Chief of Staff of Washington, D.C.'s VA Medical Center. Gatz is his first show with Elevator Repair Service.

Mike Iveson (Ewing) previously appeared in the Elevator Repair Service productions of The Sun Also Rises and The Sound and the Fury. His other credits include Richard Maxwell's Ode to the Man Who Kneels, Sarah Michelson's Dover Beach, Sibyl Kempson's Crime or Emergency, and Erin Courtney's Black Cat Lost.

Vin Knight (Chester) appeared in the Elevator Repair Service productions of The Sun Also Rises, The Sound and the Fury, and No Great Society. His other credits include The Temperamentals, The Butcherhouse Chronicles, Go-Go Kitty, GO!, and Ted Kaczynski Killed People With Bombs.

Aaron Landsman (George) has been a member of Elevator Repair Service since 2004 and previously appeared in their production of The Sound and the Fury. He has also been seen in New York in American Treasure, Cowboys & Indians, and The Florida Project.

Annie McNamara (Catherine) appeared in Elevator Repair Service's The Sound and the Fury. Her recent credits in New York include That Pretty Pretty, or, The Rape Play; Port Authority Throw Down; and God's Ear.

Kate Scelsa (Lucille) appeared in Elevator Repair Service's The Sun Also Rises, The Sound and the Fury, and Show of Shows. Her New York stage appearances include Can I Help You (Chashama), and Say Uncle! at the Soho Playhouse.

Scott Shepherd (Nick) returns to The Public, where he played the title role in The Wooster Group's Hamlet. His credits with Elevator Repair Service include McGurk: A Cautionary Tale, Shut Up I Tell You (I Said Shut Up I Tell You), Cab Legs, Total Fictional Lie, No Great Society, and The Sun Also Rises. He won Bessie and OBIE awards for his performance in The Wooster Group's Poor Theater.

Susie Sokol (Jordan) has been a member of Elevator Repair Service since 1992 and has appeared in all ERS productions since 1993. She has also collaborated with theater artists Katherine Profeta and Sibyl Kempson.

VICTORIA VAZQUEZ (Daisy) has been a member of ERS since 1996 and has appeared in The Sound and the Fury, Total Fictional Lie, and Cab Legs. Other credits include: Richard Maxwell's Caveman, People Without History, Das Maedchen and Young Jean Lee's, PULLMAN, WA.

Ben Williams (Michaelis) appeared in Elevator Repair Service's The Sun Also Rises, The Sound and the Fury, and No Great Society. His other recent projects include Walse-Fantasie with Mikhail Baryshnikov and Julia Jarcho's American Treasure.

Gary Wilmes (Tom) won an Obie for his performance in Adam Rapp's Red Light Winter. His other New York credits include Henry IV, Part 1; Boxing 2000; House; Brace Up!; Bad Boy Nietzsche; and Hotel Fuck.

Elevator Repair Service, a theater ensemble, was founded by director John Collins and a group of actors in 1991. Since that time, ERS has built a body of highly acclaimed work and has appeared on stages in downtown New York and across the U.S. and Europe. ERS shows are built around a broad range of subject matter including literary, dramatic and cinematic forms. They combine elements of hi-tech and lo-tech design, vaudeville, both literary and found text, found objects and discarded furniture, and the group's own highly developed style of choreography. The company has generated a repertoire that includes 14 original full-length pieces and several short pieces and workshop productions. Their newest piece, The Sun Also Rises (The Select) had its world premiere at the Edinburgh International Festival in August 2010, its US premiere at the Philadelphia Live Arts Festival in September 2010, and will be seen at New York Theatre Workshop next year.

Since its 2006 premiere at the Kunsten Festival des Arts in Brussels, GATZ has been seen on 18 stages, including at the American Repertory Theater (Boston, 2010), Sydney Opera House (2009), Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art (2008), Vienna Festival (2007), The Walker Art Center (Minneapolis, 2006), and The Holland Festival (2006). Awards include Zürcher Theater Spektakel ZKB-Acknowledgement Prize (2006), and Elliot Norton Awards for Outstanding Visiting Production, Outstanding Director - John Collins, and Outstanding Actor - Scott Shepherd (2010).

The Public Theater (Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director; Andrew D. Hamingson, Executive Director) was founded by Joseph Papp in 1954 and is now one of the nation's preeminent cultural institutions, producing new plays, musicals, and productions of classics at its downtown and at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. The Public's mandate to create a theater for all New Yorkers continues to this day onstage and through extensive outreach and education programs. Each year, over 250,000 people attend Public Theater-related productions and events at six downtown stages, including Joe's Pub, and Shakespeare in the Park. The Public has won 42 Tony Awards, 151 Obies, 41 Drama Desk Awards and four Pulitzer Prizes. The Public has brought 54 shows to Broadway, including Sticks and Bones; That Championship Season; A Chorus Line; The Pirates of Penzance; The Tempest; Bring In ‘Da Noise, Bring In ‘Da Funk; On the Town; The Ride Down Mt. Morgan; Topdog/Underdog; Elaine Stritch at Liberty; Take Me Out; Caroline, or Change; Well; Passing Strange; the Tony Award-winning revival of Hair; and this fall, the rock musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson and the 2010 Shakespeare in the Park production of The Merchant of Venice. Visit www.publictheater.org.

TICKET INFORMATION

Marathon performance tickets for GATZ begin at $150. Single tickets go on sale Tuesday, August 24 at (212) 967-7555, www.publictheater.org, or in person at The Public Theater box office. GATZ begins performances on Sunday, September 26 and has been extended to Sunday, November 14.

GATZ will be presented as a marathon theatrical event, with two intermissions and a dinner break, four times per week. Performances begin with Acts 1 & 2 (Chapters 1-5) on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 3 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.; they resume after a dinner break with Acts 3 & 4 (Chapters 6-9) on Wednesday, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m.

There is no performance on Wednesday, October 13 and an added performance on Monday, October 11, beginning at 3 p.m. and resuming at 8 p.m.

The Public Theater launched the Anniversary Membership Campaign this year in honor of The Public Theater's 55th Anniversary Season. For an annual tax-deductible donation of $55, patrons can purchase tickets to shows throughout the season for the low member price of $40 or less. Member tickets are on sale now.

The Public Theater is located at 425 Lafayette Street. For more information, visit www.publictheater.org.

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