Recent Cutbacks' KEVIN!!!!! Returns to The PIT This Month

The Peoples Improv Theater has announced the return of KEVIN!!!!!, the New York Innovative Theatre Award-nominated show from Recent Cutbacks (Hold On To Your Butts and Fly, You Fools!), tonight, December 8, through December 30, 2017.

Kevin is alone...at home. Featuring live projections, puppets, and a four-person choir, KEVIN!!!!! is told in Recent Cutbacks' signature brand of humor, nostalgia, and thrilling theatricality. Discover the true meaning (maybe) of Christmas with KEVIN!!!!!.

Kristin McCarthy Parker (Puffs) directs Nick Abeel, Sonia Mena, Natalie Rich and Kyle Schaefer. The creative team includes Kelsey Didion (Musical Arrangements) and Richard Sears (Choir Director). The choir is comprised of Sarah Godwin, Evan Maltby, Richard Sears and Michelle Vo. Lanie Zipoy serves as the producer.

KEVIN!!!!! was a sold out hit last December at The PIT where The New York Times hailed it "one breathless hour", Show Score called it "One of the Top 8 Holiday Shows", and Theatre Is Easy raved "it's a reminder of the joy of live theater - something you can't get from just re-watching the movie." It was nominated for the Outstanding Performance Art Production New York Innovative Theatre Award. In spring 2017, Recent Cutbacks further developed the puppetry and technology of the show through the Theatreworks residency at City College of Technology.

Recent Cutbacks' other shows-Hold On To Your Butts and Fly, You Fools!-have been hailed as "pure, unadulterated fun," by Onstageblog.com, and "very nearly perfect," by Theater Is Good. They have played to audiences in New York, Chicago's Second City Training Center, and Indianapolis.

Performances of KEVIN!!!!! run December 8 through 30 at The PIT Striker Main Stage (123 East 24th Street; Subway: 6 to 23rd or N/R to 23rd). Performances are Friday, December 8 at 9:30pm; Saturday, December 9 at 8:00pm; Friday, December 15 at 9:30pm; Saturday, December 16 at 9:30pm; Friday, December 29 at 8pm and December, December 30 at 8pm. Tickets are $20 and may be purchased in advance at www.thepit-nyc.com.

On December 29, Recent Cutbacks will perform two of its shows as a double feature: KEVIN!!!!! at 8pm and Hold On To Your Butts at 9:15pm. Tickets to the Double Feature cost $30 and are available at thepit-nyc.com/event/2017-12-29-double-feature-KEVIN-and-hold-on-to-your-butts.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

Nick Abeel (Co-Creator/Performer) has performed at UCB, 59E59, The Duplex, the Denver Center and the Kennedy Center. He's developed new work with HERE Arts, Dixon Place, New Dramatists, Manhattan Theatre Club, NY Stage and Film, Partial Comfort, Primary Stages, The Lark, New Georges, and EST/Youngblood. Nick is also a performing member of Broken Box Mime Theater and a proud graduate of the University of Evansville.

Kelsey Didion (Music Arrangements) is a co-founder of Recent Cutbacks and original performer in Hold On To Your Butts. A graduate of the University of Evansville (BS) and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (MFA), she's worked with the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, the PIT, Theatre Row, PlayMakers Repertory Company, Chautauqua Theatre Company, and the New York Shakespeare Exchange.

Sarah Godwin (Choir) is a singer, songwriter, and actress from McMinnville, Tennessee. She graduated from Rhodes College in Memphis with a B.A. in Music, has a certificate in Opera Performance from Accademia dell'Arte in Arezzo, Italy, and a Professional Certificate from AMDA NYC's intensive Integrated Musi- cal Theater Conservatory program. Since graduation, she has had the great pleasure of appearing in productions with Amore Opera, Bound for Broadway, and Structure Films. www.sarahgodwin.show

Kristin McCarthy Parker (Co-Creator/Director) is a freelance director in New York City and founding member of Recent Cutbacks. Her work includes Matt Cox's Puffs (New World Stages) and Kapow-i GoGo. She has directed and developed work at Williamstown Theatre Festival, Ma-Yi, 59E59, The Flea, HERE Arts, Dixon Place, Columbia University, Atlantic Acting School, and the University of Florida, among others. Assistantships include Ed Iskandar, Michael Greif, Wendy Goldberg, and Trip Cullman. www.kristinmccarthyparker.com

Evan Maltby (Choir). Theater: Puffs, Kapow-i GoGo (The PIT, dir. Kristin McCarthy Parker); A Burial Place (Dorothy Strelsin Theatre); South by South Death (National Sawdust); Big River, Sweet Charity (Lake Dillon Theatre); a cautionary tail, Job, #serials@theflea (The Flea); Born Blue (The Cutting Room, Dir. Anthony Rapp). Film/TV:People People (Feature, dir. Lizzie Logan), Hack My Life (TruTV). Readings and workshops with The Civilians, Ma-Yi, the Lark and EST. @maltbysfalcon

Sonia Mena (Co-Creator/Performer) Originally from The Bay Area, she is currently member of The Bats, the resident acting company at The Flea Theater. Most recent credits include: Matchstick Series (Pipeline Theater Company), The Place We Built (The Flea Theater), and Terrorism, a workshop at La Mama ETC. She would like to thank her family, friends, and teachers for their bottomless sass and support. She received her BA from Sarah Lawrence College.

Natalie Rich (Co-Creator/Performer) is a New York-based actor and writer from Louisville, Kentucky. Recent performances include Tartuffe, Horse Girls, Robin Hood andThe Elephant Man, featuring Bradley Cooper. She can be seen in various short play festivals around town and she has developed new works at Ars Nova, The PIT, Cherry Lane, Primary Stages, Dixon Place, New Harmony Project and Williamstown Theatre Festival. Natalie is the co-creator of Gimme an F! (The PIT), The Weekend Detectives(Vimeo) and Max & Natalie LIVE! (Manhattan Neighborhood Network). BFA University of Evansville. www.natalierich.com

Kyle Schaefer (Co-Creator/Performer) is an actor, collaborator, and founding member of the Group Lab and Recent Cutbacks. He has performed and developed work at the American Conservatory Theater, Williamstown, Berkshire Theater Fest, Shakes & Co, Kennedy Center, Arkansas Rep, New Harmony Project and abroad in Calgary, Vancouver and France. Sketch on #BokTV. Film: Float, Turnpike, Shaking. Kyle can be seen in the upcoming webseries Brokers. BS: U. of Evansville. MFA: A.C.T. www.kyleschaefer.com

Richard Sears (Choir Director) is a singer, vocal coach and master clinician in Manhattan. He is a charismatic performer, leading all of his interactions with a smile, a joyful spirit and the occasional laughter. As a singer, Richard is known to perform a wide genre of music including pop, opera, musical theater and religious works. His most recent credits include engagements in The Christians by Lucas Hnath at Playwrights Horizons and the world premiere of David Lang's The Public Domain at Lincoln Center.

Michelle Vo (Choir) is excited to perform with Recent Cutbacks. She trained in Meisner technique with Maggie Flanigan and Charlie Sandlan. Other training includes: Heidi Marshall, Amy Van Horne, Louisa Proske, ESPA at Primary Stages, and improv at The PIT. Michelle is also a singer and multi-instrumentalist (flute and piano). She lives in Brooklyn with her sister and her dog, Ryder. Some credits: short films for Stony Brook/Killer Films and SVA, Couples Therapy (web), The Black Widows (podcast), Lysistrata(Equal Truths Prods.), The Devil You Know (ESPA Detention). www.michellevo.com

Lanie Zipoy (Producer) is a theater and film producer. Her theater credits include Laura Marks' Bethany, starring America Ferrera (Associate Producer, Women's Project, 2 Lortel nominations); Ted Greenberg's ACE (Marjorie S. Deane Theater) Mac Rogers' Universal Robots (ITBA's Best Off-Off Broadway Play); Jelena Kajgo's Realists(HERE); Rosemary Moore's Side Street, directed by Ian Morgan; and the Brooklyn premieres of Caroline, Or Change and Jitney. Her recent film credits include Ben Barenholtz's Alina and April Flowers, starring Celina Jade and Keir Dullea. www.laniezipoy.com

Recent Cutbacks (Producer) takes parody seriously. We're inspired by nostalgia, irreverence, pop culture, and high theatricality. For more information, check out www.recentcutbacks.com.

The Peoples Improv Theater (Presenter) strives to entertain and educate the community about the comedic arts in a safe and nurturing environment. The PIT is composed of three elements: a school that focuses on the craft of improvisation, an eclectic variety of electives, and an unparalleled professional writing program; a theater that presents original comedic shows seven nights a week; and a corporate and educational workshop program that offers team building, leadership, and business training. Learn more at www.thepit-nyc.com.