HURLYBURLY Plays The American Theater Of Actors, Opens 6/2

A 2010 revival of David Rabe's Hurlyburly, opens this week, June 2, 2010 at the American Theatre of Actors (Sargent Theatre) with sets designed by the Saks Fifth Avenue windows' designer, Kant Smith, and true period costuming by Kathleen Doyle. Directed by Patricio Witis, G.R.O.U.P.nyc's Argentinean member, the play is not only visually stunning, but the quality of international talent had the Argentinean consulate donating their theatre for rehearsal space before the show. Show runs one week only (June 2-6). Doors open at 8 pm; Saturday and Sunday Matinee doors open at 3 pm. Tickets purchased at Smarttix.

About the play Hurlyburly, written by David Rabe: Fueled by massive amounts of drugs, several low to mid-level Hollywood players in the 1980s attempt to find some meaning in their isolated, empty lives or as one character says "a viable sense of reality."

Central to the play, "Eddie", played by Canadian actor and Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute teacher, Stephen Ward, continually asks the apathetic question "How does it pertain to me?" summing up the spiritual agony of all the men in the play. They search for success and power while trying to understand how their decadence defines them as men in a post women's lib world.

With misogyny still upon the lips of the male characters as an everyday conversation of boys being boys, David Rabe's writing can put women on pins. But digging deeper, the characters ironically and continuously look for personal human meaning through the women in the story, whether it be wives, girlfriends or one-night stands.

Today, twenty-five years later, and after a film adaptation set in the 90's for the 90's starring Sean Penn, and the 2005 Broadway show starring Ethan Hawke, G.R.O.U.P.nyc takes the play back to its original 80's era setting and explores how these very human elements of decadence and suffering still pertain today on the American stage.

About the Director: PATRICIO WITIS graduated from the National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts in Argentina and completed the two-year professional training program at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in NY. He has performed in all major theaters and concert stadiums in Argentina as an actor and singer in musicals such as Hair and The Rocky Horror Show. His U.S. TV credits include several commercials; spots for ESPN, the feature ParAmor and the Sundance featured short film Thinly Veiled. New York theatre credits include The Judas Tree, Life is a Dream, Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie and Gossip; Mr. Witis was also a vocalist with Natalie Douglas at the Birdland Jazz and Nightlife Awards.

About the Presenters: G.R.O.U.P.nyc is an international ensemble theatre group; dedicated to bringing new and classic international plays to the New York stage. Members are from diverse cultures and origins, and have dedicated themselves to the art of theatre and performance in New York City and abroad. At present, the countries represented by its members are France, Portugal, Canada, Israel, Argentina, Germany, Poland, Italy and the U.S. All of G.R.O.U.P.nyc's members speak more than one language and have a variety of artistic skills and talents. In essence, they are ambassadors through their art.

About the Theatre: Located in the theatre district, ATA was founded 35 years ago by James Jennings who continues as its President and Artistic Director. Its purpose is to promote the development of new playwrights, directors and actors and to provide them a creative atmosphere in which to work without the pressures of commercial theatre. More than 900 new works have been presented and 9,000 actors have worked at ATA, including Dennis Quaid, Bruce Willis, Dan Lauria, Chazz Palminteri, Kevin O'Connor, Kevin Spacey, William Fichtner, Kathryn Hahn and Edie Falco.