Ralph Harris' MANISH BOY Opens Tonight at FringeNYC

Funny Big Brother Productions presents MANish BOY, written & performed by RALPH HARRIS, as part of the 2014 New York International Fringe Festival/Fringe NYC. Nominated for the NAACP Theater Award for "Best One Person Play," MANish BOY is directed by Oz Scott with dramaturgy by Stacey McClain.

When unexpected fatherhood comes knocking on his door, Ralph bolts the door! Forced to reach back into his childhood memories, that door comes crashing open, revealing the fear he harbors about being a father. In MANish BOY, he returns home to take a DNA test. His visit home brings back the good, the bad & the painful memories of his boyhood. Inspired by his favorite childhood place - his mom's basement, Ralph brings family members & childhood friends to life. In the basement, he discovers that sometimes where you're from, makes you who you are!

RALPH HARRIS is one of today's hottest comedic & acting talents & has appeared in film & TV, including the role as Host of the culinary competition "My Momma Throws Down" on the TVOne network. Making his feature film debut in Dreamgirls, Ralph kicks off the movie as the Detroit MC who helps Jamie Foxx hook up with the Dreamettes, giving him the opportunity to work with so many talented actors, but most specifically the chance to work with his comedy idol, Eddie Murphy. Ralph continued his film career, immediately landing his second feature role in the film Evan Almighty, starring Steve Carell & Wanda Sykes. Ralph's jump to the big screen comes after years of successful television work, including appearances on "Seinfeld," "The Parent 'Hood," "Nick Freno," "Living Single," "In Living Color" & featured spots on "The Tonight Show" & "Late Night with Conan O'Brien." Ralph is probably best known for his starring role in the ABC-TV sitcom "On Our Own," which aired during the immensely popular TGIF block on Friday nights & which currently airs in syndication on TVOne. You can also catch Ralph on TV in airings of his two previously recorded Cable TV specials -"Comedy Central Presents" & the "HBO Half-Hour Comedy Special," as well as the newly released, "Clean Guys of Comedy." The Philadelphia native continues to tour the country & perform to sold-out audiences as a stand-up comedian, his first career. His comedy is character driven & is influenced by many of the greats, including Bill Cosby, Whoopi Goldberg, Eddie Murphy & the late Jonathan Winters.

OZ SCOTT (Director) is an accomplished and award-winning television, theatrical & motion picture director. In his over two decades of experience, Scott has directed hundreds of television episodes, along with dozens of stage productions, made-for-TV movies & motion pictures. He has worked at nearly every major regional theatre in the country including recent work at The Goodman, Arena Stage, Hartford Stage & Philadelphia Theatre Company. Oz earned a Drama Desk Award for his pivotal 1976 Broadway production of For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf. TV writing credits include "Archie Bunker's Place," "Alice" & "The Jeffersons." He has directed episodes of "The Cosby Show," "Northern Exposure," "LA Law," "Hill Street Blues," "Fame," "CSI: NY," "Boston Legal" & many others. Feature film credits include Bustin' Loose starring Richard Pryor. Scott has participated in the Eugene O'Neill Playwrights Conference for the past dozen years. He is also the recipient of an NAACP© Image Award.

DATES: Saturday 8/9 @ 7pm, Friday 8/15 @ 4:45pm, Wednesday 8/20

@ 9:30pm, Saturday 8/23 @ 4:30pm & Sunday 8/24 @ 4:45pm

THEATRE: Players Theatre ~ 115 MacDougal Street

TICKETS: $18

RESERVATIONS: www.fringenyc.org/basic_page.php?ltr=M