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CROSS PURPOSES & THE EXPERT to Open at American Theatre of Actors

Ken Coughlin directs an ensemble cast including Amanda Cannon and Riyadh Rollins at the Beckmann Stage.

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CROSS PURPOSES & THE EXPERT to Open at American Theatre of Actors

The historic American Theatre of Actors will present a dynamic double feature of new plays by acclaimed playwright Frank Cossa. Under the sharp direction of Ken Coughlin, Cross Purposes and The Expert will run for a strictly limited, two-week engagement from June 3 through June 14, 2026, at the ATA's Beckmann Stage as part of its theatrical complex.

This provocative, 80-minute evening features an ensemble cast including Amanda Cannon, Cristina Vera, Jonathan Beebe, and Riyadh Rollins, delivering a masterclass in contemporary drama, razor-sharp comedy, and social critique.

The evening kicks off with Cross Purposes, a quick-witted, gripping snapshot of contemporary friction that plays out over a coffee, a diet coke, a hangover, and a crucifix inside a local diner.

The story follows a brilliant but deeply hungover professor who finds himself caught in a vice of intense judgment, facing the sharp, simultaneous disapproval of a no-nonsense waitress and his own student.

Following the intermission, the energy pivots to the unexpected comedic twists of The Expert. The setup is simple: Jack thinks he's hired an art expert to evaluate a painting he's inherited. The execution? A wild, "Just YES!" ride of assumptions, credentials, and deception that will leave audiences second-guessing who the real expert in the room actually is.



Theater Fans' Choice Awards
2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards - Live Stats
Best Book of a Musical - Top 3
1. David Hornsby, Chris Hoch, David Hornsby, Chris Hoch - The Lost Boys
29% of votes
2. Cinco Paul - Schmigadoon!
23.7% of votes
3. Jim Barne, Kit Buchan - Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
23.4% of votes

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