LAByrinth Theater Company, Philip
Seymour Hoffman and John Ortiz, co-artistic directors; and The Public Theater,
George C. Wolfe, producer; Mara Manus, executive director, announce the world
premiere of THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT, a new play by Stephen Adly Guirgis,
directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman. Previews begin in The Public Theater's
Martinson Hall on Tuesday, February 8.
A co-production between LAByrinth
and The Public, THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT is a time-bending serio-comic
drama in an imagined world between Heaven and Hell that re-examines the plight
and fate of The New Testament's most infamous and unexplained ultimate sinner.
Throughout the play, figures ranging from "Pontius Pilate" to "Sigmund Freud"
are called to testify in a trial of "God and the Kingdom of Heaven and Earth
versus Judas Iscariot." Other characters include Judas' mother "Henrietta
Iscariot," "Defense Attorney Dottie Cunningham," "Prosecuting Attorney Youseff
El-Fayoumy," and Civil War veteran "Judge Littlefield."
One of the most
distinctive acting ensembles in the country, LAByrinth Theater Company is in
residence at The Public for a second season. Following GUINEA PIG SOLO (2004),
THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT marks the second collaboration between the two
theaters to develop new work. For more information on LAByrinth Theater Company,
visit www.labtheater.org.
Playing "Judas" is
Sam Rockwell, who most
recently starred in George Clooney's CONFESSIONS OF A DANGEROUS MIND. He was
also seen co-starring in the Russo brothers' comedy WELCOME TO COLLINWOOD. Eric
Bogosian will play "Satan." He is the author of five-full-length plays and six
full-length solo works. His two best known plays, TALK RADIO and subUrbia, were
each translated into acclaimed films.
The cast will also include Liza
Colón-Zayas,
Jeffrey DeMunn, Yetta Gottesman, muMs, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Deborah
Rush, and Yul Vazquez.
THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT has scenic design
by Andromache Chalfant, costume design by Mimi O'Donnell, lighting design by
Japhy Weideman and sound design by Darron West.
Liza Colón-Zayas
appeared in OUR LADY OF 121st STREET and IN ARABIA WE'D ALL BE KINGS. Film:
UNFAITHFUL, APT. 5C, ONE YEAR DOWN, THE KEEPER…
Jeffrey DeMunn (Judge
Littlefield) received a Tony Award nomination for his performance in K2 and
appeared in films such as THE GREEN MILE, THE MAJESTIC, and THE SHAWSHANK
REDEMPTION…
Yetta Gottesman (Loretta) originated role of Celeste in
WHERE'S MY MONEY? INTAR: UNMERCIFUL GOOD FORTUNE, GIANTS HAVE US IN THEIR BOOKS,
THE HOUSE OF BERNARDA ALBA… Elizabeth Rodriguez (Saint Monica) appeared in OUR
LADY OF 121st STREET, ROBBERS (American Place Theater), and films such as DEAD
PRESIDENTS, CITY HALL, and RETURN TO PARADISE…
Deborah Rush (Henrietta
Iscariot). On Broadway her credits include: THE SISTERS ROSENSWEIG; NOISES OFF,
HAY FEVER. Off-Broadway: LIPS TOGETHER, TEETH APART (MTC); THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF
VERONA; A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM; THE TAMING OF THE SHREW (all at The
Public)…
Yul Vazquez (El-Fayoumy): THE STENDAHL SYNDROME (Primary Stages),
WHEN IT'S COCKTAIL TIME IN CUBA (Cherry Lane), THE FLOATING ISLANDS (Mark
Taper). He has appeared in BAD BOYS II, RUNNING TIME, TRAFFIC, DROWNING MONA and
RUNAWAY BRIDE.
STEPHEN ADLY GUIRGIS (Playwright) is a longtime member of
NYC's LAByrinth Theater Company. His plays have been produced on five continents
and throughout the United States. They include: OUR LADY OF 121st STREET
(included in 10 best plays of 2003; Lucille Lortel, Drama Desk, and Outer
Critics Circle Best Play Nominations), JESUS HOPPED THE A TRAIN (Edinburgh
Festival Fringe First Award, Detroit Free Press Best Play of the Year, Barrymore
Best Play Award, Laurence Olivier Nomination as London's Best New Play), and IN
ARABIA WE'D ALL BE KINGS (included in 10 Best of '99, Time Out New York, and
Time Out London Critics Pick). All three plays were originally produced by
LAByrinth and directed by
Philip Seymour Hoffman. They are published by
Dramatists Play Service as well as by Faber and Faber in the anthology 'Three
Plays By...' Stephen was awarded a 2004 TCG fellowship, attended the 2004
Sundance Screenwriter's Lab, and was named one of 2004's 25 New Faces of
Independent Film by FILMAKER magazine.
Television writing credits
include "NYPD Blue", "The Sopranos," David Milch's CBS drama "Big Apple," and
Shane Salerno's NBC drama "UC: Undercover". As an actor, he most recently
appeared in Brett C. Leonard's GUINEA PIG SOLO produced at The Public Theater
last season, and has leading roles in two films to be released in 2005: Todd
Solondz's PALINDROMES, and Brett C. Leonard's JAILBAIT opposite Michael
Pitt.
Philip Seymour Hoffman (Director) is a member and Co-Artistic
Director of LAByrinth Theater Company. His LAB directing credits include: IN
ARABIA WE'D ALL BE KINGS, JESUS HOPPED THE 'A' TRAIN (Off-Broadway, the
Edinburgh Festival, London's Donmar Warehouse, and the Arts Theatre in London's
West End), and OUR LADY OF 121st STREET (Union Square Theater, Lucille Lortel
and Drama Desk nominations), all by Stephen Adly Guirgis. In 2001, he directed
Rebecca Gilman's THE GLORY OF LIVING at MCC Theater. As an actor, his stage
credits include: LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT (Tony and Drama Desk Award
nominations), THE SEAGULL (The Public Theater), TRUE WEST (Tony and Drama Desk
Award nominations, Outer Critics Circle Award), DEFYING GRAVITY (American Place
Theater), THE MERCHANT OF VENICE (Dir. by Peter Sellars), SHOPPING AND f-ing
(New York Theater Workshop), and THE AUTHOR'S VOICE (Drama Dept., Drama Desk
nominations). His film credits include: COLD MOUNTAIN, ALONG CAME POLLY, THE
PARTY'S OVER, OWNING MAHOWNY, LOVE LIZA, PUNCH-DRUNK LOVE, 25TH HOUR, ALMOST
FAMOUS, STATE AND MAIN, FLAWLESS, MAGNOLIA, THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY, BOOGIE
NIGHTS, HAPPINESS, THE BIG LEBOWSKI, and SCENT OF A WOMAN, as well as the HBO
feature EMPIRE FALLS which will air in 2005. He is currently starring in the
Truman Capote project for United Artists which he is executive producing through
his company, Cooper's Town Productions.
THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT
will play Tuesday through Saturday at 8:00pm, Saturday and Sunday at 2:00pm and
Sunday at 7:00pm.
Tickets for THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT, which are
$50, will be on sale beginning January 14th at The Public Theater box office,
425 Lafayette Street; on-line at www.publictheater.org; and via Tele-charge.com,
212-239-6200. Box office hours are Tuesday through Saturday from
1:00pm to
7:30pm, and Sunday and Monday from 1:00pm to 6:00pm. Quik Tix, discounted rush
tickets, are sold to the general public when available one half-hour before
curtain time to any non sold-out performance. For group sales of 20 or more,
please call 212-539-8621.
This production of THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAS
ISCARIOT is made possible by a generous and deeply appreciated gift from
Bloomberg.
Stephen Adly Guirgis and LAByrinth Theater Company are
participants in the Theatre Residency Program for Playwrights, a project of the
National Endowment for the Arts and Theatre Communications
Group.
LAByrinth Theater Company receives public support from The New
York City Department of Cultural Affairs and The New York State Council on the
Arts, a state arts agency. LAByrinth is also generously supported by The Lila
Acheson Wallace Theater Fund, established in The New York Community Trust by the
founders of The Reader's Digest Association; The Robert Sterling Clark
Foundation; The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust; The Andrew W. Mellon
Foundation; The Shubert Foundation; The Dramatists Guild Fund; The New York
Times Company Foundation; Dramatists Play Service; The Edith Meiser Foundation
and HBO.
The New York Community Trust - LuEsther T. Mertz Advised Fund
provides leadership support for The Public Theater's year-round activities.
Additional generous support is provided by Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman,
JPMorgan Chase, The Laura Pels Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, Mr. Kenneth
B. Lerer and Ms. Katherine Sailer,
Carole Shorenstein Hays, The George Delacorte
Fund at The New York Community Trust - Fund for Performances at the Delacorte
Theater in Central Park, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. Donald E.
Newhouse, Warren Spector and
Margaret Whitton, The Starr Foundation, Mr. and
Mrs. George W. Haywood, and the Booth Ferris Foundation. Public support is
provided by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and the New York
State Council on the Arts, a state agency. Continental Airlines is the official
airline of The Public Theater.
