Young Jean Lee's STRAIGHT WHITE MEN Opens Tonight at the Public

The Public Theater began previews for the New York premiere of STRAIGHT WHITE MEN on November 7. Written and directed by Young Jean Lee, STRAIGHT WHITE MEN runs through Sunday, December 7 in the Martinson Theater with an official press opening tonight, November 17.

The complete cast of STRAIGHT WHITE MEN features Austin Pendleton (Ed), Pete Simpson (Drew), James Stanley(Matt), and Gary Wilmes (Jake). Wilmes will be replacing the previously announced Scott Shepherd who will be shooting a Steven Spielberg film.

In the New York premiere of STRAIGHT WHITE MEN, unpredictable downtown writer/director Young Jean Lee presents a traditionally structured take on the classic American father-son drama. When Ed and his three adult sons come together to celebrate Christmas, they enjoy cheerful trash-talking, pranks, and takeout Chinese. Then they confront a problem that even being a happy family can't solve: when identity matters, and privilege is problematic, what is the value of being a straight white man?

The creative team includes David Evans Morris (scenic design); Christopher Kuhl (lighting design); Chris Giarmo and Jamie McElhinney (sound design); Enver Chakartash (costume design); Faye Driscoll (fight choreography and movement); and Mike Farry (dramaturgy).

Member tickets, priced at $30, and single tickets, starting at $35, are available now by calling (212) 967-7555, www.publictheater.org, or in person at the Taub Box Office at The Public Theater at Astor Place at 425 Lafayette Street. The Library at The Public is open nightly for food and drinks, beginning at 5:30 p.m., and Joe's Pub at The Public continues to offer some of the best music in the city.

STRAIGHT WHITE MEN is a production by Young Jean Lee's Theater Company and is commissioned by the Wexner Center for the Arts at Ohio State University, Center Theatre Group (Los Angeles), Steirischer Herbst Festival (Graz), Les Spectacles Vivants - Centre Pompidou (Paris), Festival d'Automne à Paris, and The Public Theater (New York).

Photo Credit: Julieta Cervantes