COCK to Play the Kitchen Theatre, 2/19-3/9

John wants love. He loves his boyfriend. But after a chance meeting on a train platform, he now loves his girlfriend too. What's a fellow to do when he loves both and both love him back? Mike Bartlett's smart, hilarious and provocative new play COCK, at the Kitchen Theatre Company from February 19 to March 9, tackles this question. Perhaps the answer will come if all three of them get together for a dinner party?

Fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat dialogue takes the characters and the audience on a wildly intense, outrageously sexy, and deliciously funny three-legged race. Bartlett's play won England's Laurence Olivier Award for 2010 Best New Comedy and was the talk of the town when it made its stateside premiere in New York City. Which was great, because the real name of the play could not be in print, or uttered on air. And, now, this unprintably named play is going to be produced at the Kitchen Theatre Company! The NY Times called it The Cockfight Play, and so for modesty's sake, and to avoid legal redress, we will call it that too. You can shorten the title and call it what playwright Bartlett intended, but however it goes, this play by British writer Mike Bartlett is going to keep things hot and stimulating in the Kitchen all of February and into March.

An extraordinary cast of four, all NYC-based and all newcomers to the KTC, will bring this unique theatrical event to life under the direction of Margarett Perry, Kitchen Theatre Company resident director. "The play is astounding! The director is perfect! The cast is amazing!" says KTC Artistic Director, Rachel Lampert. "They are brilliantly funny and so truthful, I find myself laughing and then gasping. This is exactly the kind of work I love to have on the Kitchen stage. And, what better play to follow Venus in Fur than, oh, I forgot, we can't print it. Well, call it whatever portion of The Cockfight Play you want to - it is going to be fabulous night of theater!"

The cast includes Vince Gatton (AEA) as John, Nick Hetherington (AEA) as "M", Daren Kelly (AEA) as "F" and Michelle Luz as "W". Scenic and Lighting Design is by David L. Arsenault, Costume Design is by Lisa Boquist, and the Production Stage Manager is Jennifer Schilansky (AEA).

In conjunction with the Ithaca premiere of this play, the Kitchen Theatre Company will present a number of ancillary events: free pre-show discussions with local experts on issues related to the play and post-show talk backs with the cast and director. Pre-show talks are scheduled for Thursday, February 27 and Thursday, March 6 at 6:30pm. Talkbacks are scheduled for Friday, February 28 and Friday, March 7. Please check our website for more events: www.kitchentheatre.org.

Is our sexuality defined by whom we choose to love? Can we love a man and a woman? Is it asking too much to not make a choice? Join us at the Kitchen Theatre Company for decisions, decisions, decisions!

The show will run:

Wednesday, February 19 at 7:30pm - Preview

Thursday, February 20 at 7:30pm - Preview

Friday, February 21 at 8:00pm - Preview

Saturday, February 22 at 8:00pm - Opening Night

Sunday, February 23 at 4:00pm

Wednesday, February 26 at 7:30pm

Thursday, February 27 at 2:00pm

Thursday, February 27 at 7:30pm (Pre-show talk at 6:30pm)

Friday, February 28 at 8:00pm (Followed by a talkback with actors and director)

Saturday, March 1 at 8:00pm

Sunday, March 2 at 4:00pm

Wednesday, March 5 at 7:30pm (Pay What You Can night)

Thursday, March 6 at 7:30pm (Pre-show talk at 6:30pm)

Friday, March 7 at 8:00pm (Followed by a talkback with actors and director)

Saturday, March 8 at 8:00pm

Sunday, March 9 at 4:00pm - closing performance

All performances take place at The Kitchen Theatre Company, 417 W. Martin Luther King, Jr. / State Street, Ithaca, NY. Call Kitchen Theatre Box Office at 607-272-0570 (Monday - Friday 12-6pm, Saturday 4-6:30pm, Sunday 12-2:30pm) or buy online at www.kitchentheatre.org. Tickets: Previews: $27; Regular performances: $34 adult, $31 senior; Opening Night: $37 adult, $34 senior; Thursday Matinee: $24; Students (with ID): $28; Student Rush (available 30 minutes before the performance): $15.

Bold, intimate, engaging... Kitchen Theatre Company (KTC), now in its 23rd season, is downtown Ithaca's critically acclaimed and nationally recognized year-round professional theater company, specializing in regional and world premiere plays and musicals. KTC's intimate 99-seat theater is in its newly renovated, LEED-certified building in the West End neighborhood of downtown Ithaca, New York. KTC is the first not-for-profit recipient of the David R. Strong Memorial "Small Business of the Year" Award from the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce and receives public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency, and the Tompkins County Tourism Program. The Kitchen Theatre Company also receives general operating support from the Shubert Foundation.