Tom Wopat to Star in Limited Run of Nelson's The Guys

The Flea Theater will present commemorative performances of The Guys by Anne Nelson for a limited engagement at The Flea from September 11 through September 23 only.

The production will feature Tom Wopat (Annie Get Your Gun, Chicago, "The Dukes of Hazzard") in the role of Nick, a fire captain who lost his crew of men on 9/11 and Grace Gonglewski as Joan, a journalist who helps him to write the eulogies he must deliver in the wake of this international tragedy.  Matinee performances and some evening shows will be played by Tim Cummings and Irene Walsh, who played the roles during the original run five years ago while they were members of the Bats, the resident company of artists at The Flea.

Nelson, who is also a distinguished journalist, wrote The Guys in 2001.  The play is based on her experience with a New York City fire captain after the September 11th attacks.  It has been produced in 46 states and ten countries, and as a feature film. Nelson's new play Savages was produced this spring by Back House Productions, and like The Guys, "is published by Dramatists Play Service. Nelson won a 2005/6 Guggenheim Fellowship for her book on anti-Nazi resistance in Berlin, to be published by Random House.

The production will be directed by Thomas Kail, the artistic director and co-founder of Back House Productions (the resident theater company of New York City's The Drama Book Shop). Kail is the director of In the Heights, a new musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda that is set to open off-Broadway in February 2007, and is the co-creator and director of Freestyle Love Supreme (FLS).

The designers are Kyle Chepulis (set and lights) and Claudia Brown (costumes).  Both are frequent Flea collaborators.

The Flea Theater is located at 41 White Street, between Broadway and Church Streets.  Discounted tickets are available for fire fighters, police and emergency medical personnel by calling 212-226-0051, ext 101.  All other tickets are $40 and may be purchased by calling 212-352-3101 or visiting www.TheaterMania.com.