Weatherford's BLACKER Set for Run at Urban Stages, Begin. 8/26

Russ Weatherford's "Blacker," a new play exploring Oscar Wilde's little-known brush with the Dreyfus Affair, begins an exclusive two-week engagement on Wednesday August 26 at Urban Stages, 259 West 30th Street. Directed by David Austin, and produced by Sandi Durell, the premiere of "Blacker" plays through Thursday September 3. The official opening is also on Wednesday August 26 at 8pm. For tickets call SmartTix.com at 212/868-4444 or visit www.smarttix.com

Exploring the troubling collusion of Wilde in the persecution of Jewish army officer Dreyfus after his own disgrace and imprisonment, "Blacker" introduces us to Carlos Blacker, a wealthy rare book dealer, who, dating back to the 1880s, was one of Wilde's closest friends and confidants. While he was able to juggle, for a time, his marriage to a strong-willed social-climbing wife, and his close friendship with the tempestuous genius Oscar Wilde, Blacker finds his loyalty to Wilde deeply tested. The friendship is pushed to the breaking point when the publicly persecuted Wilde, living under an assumed name in a ramshackle hotel, decides to traffic in innuendo about Dreyfus, to the horror of his friend.

Austin, the director, wrote the score for the musical "Beaches," which is wrapping up its critically acclaimed pre-Broadway tryout at Chicago's esteemed Drury Lane Theatre. A Seattle-born composer-lyricist, actor and director, he originated the role of Jeff Bennet in the Off-Broadway premiere of "I Love You Because."

A former daytime television actor and the founding artistic director of The Actor's Circle, Weatherford writes and directs for film ("Boulevard Café" and "Goin' to the Chapel") and the stage. His books include "Confidence and Clarity" (distributed by Samuel French Trade), and the motivational series for actors "The Reality of the Road to Make-Believe." He is completing a new series of plays on Cole Porter.

"Blacker's" cast of nine includes Eric Rudy (as Oscar Wilde); David Gautschy (as Carlos Blacker); Paul Hinkes (as Christian Healy); Dean Regan; Shana Farr; Dino Petrero; David Austin, and Mari Lynn Henry.

Sets and costumes are designed by Eric Rudy. The production stage manager is Marilyn Lester.

Produced by Sandi Durell, the publisher and editor of www.TheaterPizzazz.com, "Blacker" plays a total of 10 performances from Wednesday August 26 to Thursday September 3 at Urban Stages, 259 West 30th Street, with an opening on Wednesday August 26 at 8pm. Performances are as follows: Wednesday to Friday August 26, 27, 28 at 8pm; Saturday August 29 at 2pm & 8pm; Monday and Tuesday August 31 & September 1 at 8pm; Wednesday September 2 at 2pm & 8pm, and Thursday September 3 at 8pm. For tickets, which are $18, call 212/868-4444, or visit www.smarttix.com (Running time is 135 minutes, including one intermission.)