Jesse Liebman, Nicole Rodenburg and Karis Danish Set for #MORMONINCHIEF at FringeNYC, Now thru 8/22

Michael Holt Productions presents #MormonInChief, a world premiere play written by Matthew Greene about a young Mormon man who becomes the center of a national media frenzy after his inflammatory tweets inspired by a Mormon Presidential Candidate go viral, as part of the 16th annual New York International Fringe Festival-FringeNYC.

Austin Regan (Associate Director-Broadway: On a Clear Day…, American Idiot, Everyday Rapture) directs a three member cast that includes Jesse Liebman (Did You Hear About the Morgans?/Columbia Pictures, “The Girl’s Guide to Depravity”/Cinemax), Nicole Rodenburg* (The Whale/Denver Center, The End/Guthrie), and Karis Danish* (Doubt/Asolo Rep). AEA Showcase. *Member- Actors’ Equity Association.

One tweet. Unimaginable consequences. Unassuming Mormon, Connor Jorgensen, becomes the center of national media frenzy when his tweets about a Mormon presidential candidate go viral. Inspired by comments the candidate allegedly made in a church meeting, Connor spreads his presidential pick’s views on “the gays, illegals and bleeding hearts”, leading ambitious reporter Lydia Strout to his door. As Lydia tries to find the man hiding behind the orthodox Mormon facade, and Connor navigates the unfamiliar world of Tweets, news feeds, and blogs, both are forced to confront the choice between living by facts or walking by faith.

“The story of Connor Jorgensen and Lydia Strout is one that all can relate to, as the charcters grapple with the competing interests of both faith and facts,” states producer Michael Holt. “#MormonInChief is a compelling and humorous new play that examines where faith and politics intersect, and the profound impact that technology and new media can have on our lives.”

#MormonInChief is produced by Michael Holt. Director: Austin Regan; Scenic Designer: Jason Ardizzone-West; Projections/Lighting: David Bengali; Costume Designer: Beth Goldenberg; Production Stage Manager: Patrick Clayton; Marketing: 241 Marketing.

The runtime for #MormonInChief is approximately 90 minutes with no intermission and will be presented at the Kraine Theater (85 West 4th Street) according to the following schedule: Aug. 11 at 6pm, Aug. 14 at 4:45pm, Aug. 18 at 12pm, Aug. 19 at 7pm and Aug. 22 at 2:30pm. Tickets are $15-$18 and can be purchased at www.FringeNYC.org.

Matthew Greene (Playwright) is a California native living and working in New York City. He holds a BA in Theatre Arts Studies from Brigham Young University. In January 2008, he worked with Plan B Theatre and the Theatre Arts Conservatory as a writer in their Student SLAM event. His short play Job Well Done was selected as a regional finalist in the KCACTF Ten Minute Play Festival in February 2008; he traveled to the festival in Los Angeles where his play was recognized as a regional winner and national finalist. He wrote Bread of Affliction, a play commissioned by the Society for the Study of Jewish American and Holocaust Literature, which was presented at the JAHL symposium in September 2008. Matthew’s adaptation of Racine’s Berenice and original play Man to Man were produced at BYU in 2009. Adam and Steve and the Empty Sea, his newest play, which deals with the personal effects of the gay marriage debate, had its first New York City staged reading in July 2011 and will be produced by Plan B Theatre in Salt Lake City, Utah in 2013.

Austin Regan (director) Recent work includes Damascus Square (Metropolitan Room); It Started With A Dream at the 92nd St. Y; Bromance at 92Y Tribeca; Hey, You Know What...? at the Julia Miles Theater and The Zipper Factory; The Who's Tommy at the Boston Conservatory, Floyd Collins, Ghost Sonata, and And He Made A Her. Austin also served on the theater department faculty at the Boston Conservatory and is a founding member and teacher at “Other Side of the Table” in New York City. As Associate and Assistant Director, Austin has worked on Broadway (On A Clear Day...; American Idiot; Everyday Rapture), national tours, regional premieres, and at the Metropolitan Opera.

Michael Holt (Producer) is a producer, general manager and theater marketing consultant. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management Marketing from Brigham Young University, he began working as a marketing associate for Hale Center Theater in Orem, Utah and a management intern for Hale Center Theater in Salt Lake City, Utah. Upon moving to NYC, Michael began collaborating with Lisa Dozier (Lisa Dozier Productions) on National Alliance for Musical Theater's Festival of New Musicals. He has acted as an assistant and associate general manager at LDP on off-off works including Leave the Balcony Open (3LD) and Spring Alive! (Dixon Place). Current projects include A Letter to Harvey Milk (NYMF) and Swing State (NYMF), as well as The Gospel According to Tammy Faye. Michael has been on staff at Stuart Thompson Productions, where he worked on the Tony Award winning Death of a Salesman, as well as last season's hit, The Book of Mormon. He is a candidate for a Masters in Performing Arts Administration from NYU.