59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer; Brian Beirne, Managing Director) is thrilled to host the NYC premiere of WHITE GUY ON THE BUS, written by Bruce Graham and directed by Bud Martin. Produced by Delaware Theatre Company, WHITE GUY ON THE BUS begins performances on Sunday, March 5 for a limited engagement through Sunday, April 16. Opening Night is Tuesday, March 14 at 7 PM. The performance schedule is Tuesday - Thursday at 7 PM; Friday at 8 PM; Saturday at 2 PM & 8 PM; and Sunday at 3 PM. Performances are at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street, between Park and Madison Avenues). Tickets are $25 - $70 ($25 - $49 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or visit www.59e59.org.
Robert Cuccioli stars as a wealthy white business man who meets a struggling black single mother (played by Danielle Leneé) on their daily commute on the bus. As they get to know one another, their pasts unfold and tensions rise, inciting an incendiary exploration of privilege that is both fiery and disturbing.
Playwright
Bruce Graham (Any Given Monday and The Outgoing Tide) returns to 59E59 with a provocative and unflinching look at race in America today. Called "a play with guts" by the Chicago Tribune, WHITE GUY ON THE BUS comes to New York direct from its run at the Delaware Theatre Company.
Joining Mr. Cuccioli and Ms. Leneé in the cast are
Jessica Bedford, Susan McKey, and
Jonathan Silver.
The design team includes
Paul Tate DePoo III (scenic design);
Wade Laboissonniere (costume design);
Rob Denton (lighting design); Michael Hahn (sound design and original music); and
Nicholas Hussong (projection design).
Bruce Graham (playwright) is the author of thirteen published full length plays. Plays include: Burkie, Early One Evening at the Rainbow Bar & Grille, Moon Over the Brewery, Minor Demons, Belmont Avenue Social Club, The Champagne Charlie Stakes, Desperate Affection, Coyote on a Fence (winner of The Rosenthal Prize), According to Goldman, Something Intangible (winner of seven Barrymore Awards, including Best New Play), Any Given Monday (Barrymore winner for Best New Play), The Outgoing Tide (
Joseph Jefferson Award, Best New Play), Stella and Lou, North of the Boulevard, White Guy on the Bus, Rizzo and Funnyman. His short plays Fully Accessible and The Happy F!@#$%G Blind Guy have been published in Best Ten Minute Plays of 2013 and 2014. His one-man show, The Philly Fan, plays semi-continuously throughout the Philadelphia area. Film credits include: Dunston Checks In, Anastasia, Steal This Movie. T.V. movies: Hunt for the Unicorn Killer, The Christmas Secret, Ring of Endless Light (Humanitas Award Winner - Best Children's Screenplay), Right on Track, Tiger Cruise, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Trading Christmas, Cedar Cove. Television: Roseanne, Cedar Cove (staff) and The Good Witch (staff). Graham recently returned to acting appearing as Ernie in Rumors, Eddie in Lost in Yonkers, Richard in Time Stands Still, Milt in Laughter on the 23rd Floor, Artie in Hurlyburly and Arthur in Pterodactyls. He has received grants from the Pew Foundation, the Princess Grace Foundation (Statuette Award winner) the Rockefeller Foundation and the Philadelphia Theatre Initiative. Along with
Michele Volansky he is the author of the book, The Collaborative Playwright. Graham is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He teaches film and theater courses at Drexel University and divides his time between South Philly and Elkton, Maryland.
Bud Martin (director) is in his fifth season as Executive and Artistic Director at Delaware Theatre Company. Previous directing credits at DTC include: The War of the Roses, The Explorers Club (4 Barrymore noms.), Putting It Together (with the DSO), Love Letters, Rest in Pieces, The Story of My Life, Lend Me a Tenor, Any Given Monday, South Pacific, and The Outgoing Tide. He has produced extensively on and Off- Broadway and in London's West End. At 59E59, he directed
Bruce Graham's Any Given Monday and The Outgoing Tide with
Michael Learned and
Peter Strauss. He received his MA in Theatre from Villanova University and is a member of the The Broadway and The Off-Broadway Leagues.
Photo Credit: Genevieve Rafter-Keddy
