Exiene Lofgren's BE A MAN!!! Hits FringeNYC 8/15 Thru 8/28

Exiene Lofgren's BE A MAN!!!, directed by Grant Kretchik, gets its world premiere at the 2009 New York International Fringe Festival. BE A MAN!!! begins performances Saturday August 15 and runs through August 28 at the Player's Loft Theatre (115 MacDougal Street). Tickets are $15 and can be purchased by visiting www.ticketweb.com.

How does a man who looks like Annie Lennox, raised by feminist and married a man, BE A MAN!!!? Fist fights? Sex with women? Time in the military? Born and raised on the streets of Chicago, Exiene Lofgren is an established comic who has performed around the world. BE A MAN!!! tells his story of trying to keep his membership in the almighty "Boys Club," while keeping trust of the "Sisterhood" of women.

Exiene Lofgren (writer/performer) has performed across the US, UK and most of Europe. He has appeared on VH1, The Ricki Lake Show, and FujiTV on Japanese television. He's been a regular guest on Sirius/XM radio, The Radio Chick on Q104.3 in NYC and The Sunday Comics 1043AM radio in Boston.

Grant Kretchik (director) received his MFA from the esteemed Actors Studio at New School University. He is an active member of The New Globe Theatre, after being invited to join by classics master Stuart Vaughan, Mr. Kretchik helped re-launch this Off-Broadway company both on-stage and as a producing consultant. He has appeared Off- Broadway as Silvio in The Servant of Two Master and as a youthful Sean O'Casey in I Knock at the Door and Pictures in the Hallway. Film and television credits include "Law and Order," "Guiding Light," "As the World Turns," "OZ," and Man on the Moon. Later this summer he begins shooting the independent feature film When Harry Tries to Marry. Mr. Kretchik has been a featured guest at New York City's Lehman College, appearing in their emerging artist series television program. He has also held positions with Entertainment Tonight and Warner Bros. Television casting. Mr. Kretchik is a member of Actors Equity Association. Recently his essay "With Talent Comes Responsibility! Defining your Dream" was published in The Soul of the American Actor. When Mr. Kretchik isn't on stage he can be found at Pace University in New York City where he heads up their BFA Acting programs.