The Flea to Open New Plays by Gurney, Banks in Fall 2010

Jim Simpson, Artistic Director and Carol Ostrow, Producing Director are pleased to announce the line up for the Fall 2010 season at The Flea.

Opening the season will be the World Premiere of OFFICE HOURS by A. R. Gurney, directed by Jim Simpson, running September 21 - November 7. Says Simpson, "We are blessed again to produce the work of Pete Gurney-- a distinguished playwright who speaks to our times and who endorses the work of our young company The Bats." Written specifically for The Bats, OFFICE HOURS takes us back to the university campus in 1974 when administrations began to doubt the value of a "Great Books" course. The play offers striking parallels to our contemporary political climate and raises significant questions surrounding the teaching of the classics in our modern world. Gurney adds "I wrote OFFICE HOURS specifically to be performed by the Bats at the Flea Theatre. The play is designed to display the talents, energy, and versatility of these young actors." Opening is set for September 30, 2010.

Following will be yet another World Premiere by a returning Flea artist. Adds Ostrow, "Steven Banks, aka Billy The Mime, was so taken with our young Acting Company when he was at The Flea in AMERICA LOVESEXDEATH that he particularly wrote this piece with them in mind." LOOKING AT CHRISTMAS is a twenty-first century New York City holiday tale - the story of a young, recently fired writer who stumbles upon young, newly arrived actress on Christmas Eve while taking in the famed holiday window displays along Fifth Avenue. From Tiny Tim toting a ray gun to an eager elf with an eye for Mrs. Claus, the familiar characters behind the windows come to life in the most unexpected ways as the pair passes by each display in this quirky love story. LOOKING AT CHRISTMAS will run November 20 - December 31.

A.R. Gurney has been writing plays for over fifty years. Among them are THE GRAND MANNER, SCENES FROM AMERICAN LIFE, THE DINING ROOM, THE MIDDLE AGES, THE COCKTAIL HOUR, LOVE LETTERS, SYLVIA, FAR EAST, ANCESTRAL VOICES, BIG BILL INDIAN BLOOD, CRAZY MARY, and BUFFALO GAL.  At The Flea he has premiered POST MORTEM, O JERUSALEM, SCREENPLAY, MRS. FARNSWORTH, and A LIGHT LUNCH. He has also written three novels, a few television scripts, several unproduced movies, and the librettos of two operas. Gurney is a member of the Theatre Hall of Fame and the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He has honorary degrees from Williams College and Buffalo State University and taught literature
at M.I.T. for many years.

Steven Banks is the Emmy-nominated head writer of 'SpongeBob Squarepants'. He recently co-created a full evening piece, SHADOWLAND, for the renowned dance company Pilobolus, currently touring internationally. He wrote and starred in the critically acclaimed one-man play HOME ENTERTAINMENT CENTER on Showtime and performed it in Los Angeles and San Francisco, winning LA Weekly, Dramalouge and Bay Area Critic's Circle Awards. At The Flea, he presented his controversial mime show AMERICA LOVESEXDEATH. Steven also wrote and
starred in the national PBS series 'The Steven Banks Show' and released a CD, 'Songs from The Steven Banks Show.' His first novel, 'King of the Creeps,' was published by Random House/Knopf. He has written over twenty children's books, including two New York Times best sellers. His play, LOVE TAPES, co-written with Penn Jillette, was nominated for three LA Weekly Theater Awards, winning Best Direction of a Comedy. He wrote the book and additional lyrics for 'SpongeBob: The Musical!' Steven is a drop out of Los Angeles City College and a graduate of the Ringling Brother's & Barnum and Bailey's Clown College.

The Flea Theater, under Artistic Director Jim Simpson and Producing Director Carol Ostrow, is one of New York's leading off-off-Broadway companies. Winner of a Special Drama Desk Award for outstanding achievement, Obie Awards and an Otto for political theater, The Flea has presented nearly 100 plays and numerous dance and live music performances since its inception in 1996. Past productions include the premieres of Anne Nelson's THE GUYS; five plays by A.R. Gurney (POST MORTEM, O JERUSALEM, SCREENPLAY, MRS. FARNSWORTH, and A LIGHT LUNCH); Mac Wellman's CELLOPHANE and TWO SEPTEMBER; Roger Rosenblatt's ASHLEY MONTANA GOES ASHORE... and THE OLDSMOBILES; Elizabeth Swados' JABU and KASPAR HAUSER; Karen Finley's RETURN OF THE CHOCOLATE SMEARED WOMAN; Adam Rapp's BINGO WITH THE INDIANS; Will Eno's OH, THE HUMANITY AND OTHER EXCLAMATIONS; DAWN by Thomas Bradshaw; THE GREAT RECESSION; Jonathan Reynolds' GIRLS IN TROUBLE; and most recently Bathsheba Doran's PARENTS' EVENING.

The Flea is located at 41 White Street between Church and Broadway, three blocks south of Canal, close to the A/C/E, N/R/Q/W, 6, J/M/Z and 1 subway lines. Additional information including casting and production schedules will be announced on The Flea's website at www.theflea.org.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.

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