John Cariani's LOVE / SICK Begins Next Month at Royal Family Performing Arts Space

Almost Maine is one of the countries most produced plays, this February; Royal Family Productions (Katie Avebe, Mary Bernardi, Chris Henry and Andy Theodorou, Founders) will present the New York premiere of John Cariani's follow-up play LOVE / SICK. Directed by Chris Henry and featuring choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter, LOVE / SICK will begin performances on February 6 and open on February 9 through February 26, 2015 at Royal Family's new home in Times Square at Royal Family Performing Arts Space (145 West 46th St.). Tickets are $18 and can be purchased by visiting royalfamilyproductions.org or by calling Ovation Tickets at (866)811-4111.

A darker cousin to ALMOST, MAINE, Cariani's newest play, LOVE / SICK, is a one act, nine-play cycle about love and loss. Each play has its own arc and tells the story of a couple at a crossroads in their relationship. Since each relationship is more advanced than the previous relationship, a larger arc emerges and the individual plays work together to create a satisfying whole - one that chronicles the lifecycle of a typical relationship, from meeting through divorce... and afterwards.

During its previous regional runs, LOVE/SICK has been called "A gem. Abundant belly laughs." The Portland Daily Sun; "Absolutely irresistible. Well-crafted, witty stories, chock-full of smart dialogue." The Portland Press Herald; "Intimate, honest, smart and funny." The Poughkeepsie Journal; "Strikes just the right balance between wisdom and whimsy. Light, bright, anti-romantic, and engaging." The Hartford Courant.

Cast include: Justin Hagan (RFP's Four Last Things, Film: Shortbus, Party Monster),

Simone Harrison (Platinum Wigs, Singing Telegram), Dee Roscioli (RFP's Dedalus Lounge; B'way: Wicked), Debargo Sanyal (When January Feels Like Summer. Film: The Magic of Belle Isle, Everybody's Fine). Creative team includes: Shannon Rednour (Sets), Lux Haac (Costumes), Lucrecia Briceno (Lights), Danny Erdberg (Sound), Adrian Pena (Stage Manager).

JOHN CARIANI (playwright) is an actor and a playwright. As an actor, he has appeared on and off Broadway and in several films and television shows. He appeared as Motel the Tailor in the 2004 revival of Fiddler on the Roof starring Alfred Molina and received the Outer Critics Circle Award and a Tony Award nomination for his performance. Most people know him for his work on TV. From 2002-2007, he played CSU Tech Julian Beck on NBC's long-running drama, Law & Order. He also had recurring roles as Professor Otto Bahnoff in the final season of CBS' Numbers, (2009-2010), as reporter Michael Falk on the IFC's The Onion News Network (2011), and recently guest-starred on Homeland and The Good Wife. John is a graduate of Amherst College, and now lives in New York City.As a playwright, John is best known for his first play, Almost, Maine, which is one of the most frequently produced plays in the country. His new play, Last Gas, is newly published by DPS; his latest play, LOVE/SICK, and will be opening Off Broadway in the winter of 2015. Originally from Presque Isle, Maine, John is a graduate of Amherst College. He lives in New York City.

Almost, Maine was developed at the Cape Cod Theatre Project, and premiered at Portland Stage Company in 2004 where it broke box office records and garnered critical acclaim. It opened off Broadway two years later and is now featured in SMITH AND KRAUS' NEW PLAYWRIGHTS: BEST PLAYS OF 2006. Almost, Maine has since become one of the most frequently produced plays in the United States, with nearly 3000 productions to date. It has received over 70 professional productions, selling out or extending at respected at highly respected Milwaukee Rep, Geva Theatre Center, and Hartford TheaterWorks; it's been translated into nearly 20 languages; and it has been produced by over 2,500 community theater, high school, and college organizations. Since 2010, the Almost, Maine has been one of the most frequently produced plays in North American high schools. Dramatics magazine and The Washington Post reported, that in the 2009-2010, 2011-2012, and 2013-2014 academic years, Almost, Maine was the most frequently produced play in American high schools, outpacing William Shakespeare, Thornton Wilder, and Arthur Miller. The play regularly appears on year-end top ten lists all over the country. The 2014 Transport Group revival of the play was critically acclaimed, extended, and was recorded for Lincoln Center's Theater on Film and Tape Archives, and was named to The Advocate's top ten list of the Best Theatre of 2014. almostmaine.com has more info. So does johncariani.com

CHRIS HENRY (director) is an award-winning theatre director in New York City. Directing credits: RFP:Four Last Things, Dedalus Lounge, Safe Home, Glory and the Juniper Queen, Your Mom's Feet. RFP PROJECTS IN DEVELOPMENT: Louie, Red and the Jazzman (in collaboration with Wycliffe Gordon), Nobody Suspects a Butterfly (originally a feature film treatment Henry wrote for Ross Greenburg, Former President of HBO Sports), Cheesecake Girl (in collaboration with Genya Ravan) and Opal Ann Meets the Fabulous Kit Katt (in collaboration with Daniel A. Weiss and Summer Hyde). NEW YORK: Joe (Cherry Lane), Trans-Euro Express (Irish Arts Center), Art of War (Madison Square Garden), Sharpen Your Blade ("Time Out" Critic's Pick), Fishbowl (New York Magazine Critic's pick), The Tuesday Shane Show, Suicide Society (Winner Best Director), The Lovetalker, Burn This, and over 50 others. In 2011 & 2014, she was a Zelda Fichandler Award finalist, and was awarded the NETC Regional Award for Excellence in Theatre along with Richard Dresser

JOANN M. HUNTER (Choreography) is a New York based performer and choreographer. Recently, she directed Debra Monk in her one woman show February of 2014, with special guest Ron Rifkin, Andrew Martin, Victor Garber, Charlotte D'Amboise, Jimmy Newman, Brandon Victor Dixen and David Hyde Pierce. JoAnn is currently working on developing an original dance play about pro football athlete's loss of physical identity. As a performer JoAnn has 12 Broadway credits to her name, has choreographed on and off Broadway, and served as the Associate Broadway Choreographer for Spring Awakening, Curtains, The Wedding Singer, and All Shook Up. Choreography: Broadway/Off Broadway - On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, She Loves Me, Broadway Bounds, Dedalus Lounge, The Twelve, National Tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Curtains, Spring Awakening, The Wedding Singer, and All Shook Up. Performer: Broadway Thoroughly Modern Millie (Gloria), Thou Shalt Not (Suzanne), Kiss Me Kate (Lois/Bianca), Chicago (June), Steel Pier (Hannah), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Vibrata), Damn Yankees (Dance Captain), How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Dance Captain), Guys and Dolls (Havana Specialist/Mimi), Miss Saigon (Yvonne), Shogun the Musical (Kiku), and Featured Performer in Jerome Robbins Broadway.