LEARning Curve Civial Rights Drama to Open February 10th

Producer Betty Ann Besch Solinger presents the World Premiere of 'the seminal school year of 1968 and the students who were making a difference' in LEARNING CURVE by Rogelio Martinez, directed by Michael Sexton. This limited engagement begins Thursday, February 10th and ends Sunday, February 27th. Performances run Tuesdays – Saturdays at 8 PM, Sundays at 2 PM. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased by calling Ticket Central at 212.279.4200 or by going to www.ticketcentral.com.

Set amidst the true events of the armed takeover of a building by African American students at a leading northeastern University in 1968, Learning Curve chronicles the complex relationships that are forged between students at an Ivy League university, and the heavy responsibilities placed on them to effect change. The play focuses on DAVID, a young African American in his turbulent first year in college falling in love with a white student who is also the daughter of an important professor. When his girlfriend takes some controversial photos of him and exhibits them anonymously, he becomes the target of his fellow African Americans who berate him for letting a white woman tell his "story". It is difficult for him not to get caught up in the maelstrom as the play rushes towards its climactic conclusion.

"This play asks a lot of questions, primarily who has a right to tell another's story," says playwright Rogelio Martinez. "Can the white female student effectively convey an African American's story? Can I as a Hispanic write a play about the black experience? Can the older David look back and even tell his own tale?"

Rogelio Martinez is a Cuban born playwright who was featured on the front cover of American Theater Magazine as a "Playwright to Watch" He is a recipient of an NEA/TCG theatre residenCy Grant at INTAR.. Credits include Arrivals and Departures in the First Annual Summer Play Festival, Union City NJ, Where Are You? (EST's Marathon starring Rosie Perez, winner of the James Hammerstein Award), I Regret She's Made of Sugar (South Coast Rep - 2001 Princess Grace Award), amongst many others. He is an alumnus of the New Dramatists Committee. Director Michael Sexton directed Stealing Sweets and Punching People in last year's Summer Play Fesitval, Jimmy Carter Was A Democrat (PS 122), Trudy Blue by Marsha Norman and A Place at the Table (both at MCC), Finally Flannery (NYTW), Aunt Pieces (Cherry Lane) and Big Night at the Public, et al.

The rest of the artistic team includes Narelle Sissons (scenic design – the Pulitzer Prize winning How I Learned to Drive, The Oldest Profession at Signature, Mabou Mines Dollhouse, et al), Suttirat Anne Larlarb (costume design – Eyes of the Heart with the National Asian American Theatre Co., Orange, Lemon, Egg, Canary at the Humana Festival,et al), Justin Townsend (lighting design – Othello at Hartford Stage, Apollo at the Taper Too, et al). Shane Rettig (Sound design –PINK at SPF, SUITCASE at Soho Rep and La Jolla Playhouse, et al)

The play stars Chadwick Boseman, Mike Hodge, Graeme Malcolm, John McAdams, Natalia Payne, Demond Robertson and Daniel Talbott.