'Klepto' Opens Shortened Attention Fest March 6-9

Playwright Charles Messina returns for this Spring's Shortened Attention Span Baseball Festival with his semi-autobiographical one-act, Klepto, to open a limited run as part of the Festival and runs opening week, March 6-9.   Show times Thursday through Saturday at 8PM; Sunday at 3PM. The Players Theatre is located at 115 MacDougal Street (between West 3rd and Bleecker Streets).

"Klepto tells the tale of a boy with an encyclopedic mind for baseball and his complex relationship with his overbearing, kleptomaniacal mother," explain press notes.

Gina Ferranti, who won accolades for her role as a twisted mom in Messina's Merging last year, here plays another woman of dubious maternal instincts.  Lou Martini (Anthony Infante on 'The Sopranos') stars as a Department Store Investigator hot on the trail of some missing merchandise.  The play introduces audiences to 11 year old newcomer John Barbieri, as the fatherless boy in the center of the storm.

Klepto is also directed by Messina, who previously helmed the hit off-Broadway shows Mercury: The Afterlife and Times of a Rock God and Cirque Jacqueline.  In addition, Messina is directing the big-budget musical Be My Love, about the life of Mario Lanza, written by Richard Vetere, and produced by Phil Ramone and Sonny Grosso, which premiered last October at The Tilles Center.  For the big screen, Messina has written They're Just My Friends, which was released in Fall 2006 and starred Lord Jamar, Malik Yoba, and Bruce Altman.  He has also written the film Spy starring Vincent Pastore, Frank Vincent, and Ben Curtis, due out later this year.

The Players Theatre's Shortened Attention Span Baseball Festival features the works of emerging playwrights from all over the country, with the unifying theme of the plays being the subject of baseball. Tickets: $17, call 212-212-352-3101 or visit  www.theatermania.com

The Players Theatre: 115 MacDougal Street ( between West 3rd and Bleeker Streets) Visit www.theplayerstheatre.com or call 212-475-1449

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