Cast Announced for World Premiere of HURRICANE DAMAGE

Casting is complete for HURRICANE DAMAGE, a world-premiere dramedy by the New York-based playwright Kevin Brofsky that will be the fourth entry in Pride Films and Plays' five-show PAC Pride Fest. HURRICANE DAMAGE, opening on August 3 after previews on August 1 and 2, concerns two long-time partners, veterans of the 1970's gay scene in New York, living on Florida's Gulf Coast. Dennis and Oscar are visited by an old friend of those days, a photographer named Norman who has remained single and brings back bittersweet memories of their glory days in Manhattan.

The couple will be played by company member Charles A. Berglund as Dennis and Danne W. Taylor as Oscar. Company member Tom Chiola will play Norman. Jesse Montoya will play Ford - the couple's young live-in handyman and friend. The banter among the four - particularly the razor-sharp wit of the 67-year-old Oscar - provides a good dose of humor along with the pathos of the characters' loss of their past lives and acceptance of the inevitability of change.

Pride Films and Plays' Executive Director David G. Zak, who curated the summer festival, says "HURRICANE DAMAGE is one of those rare gay plays to explore the lives of older gay men. It'll be a great vehicle for our company members Tom Chiola and Chuck Berglund and an opportunity to bring back Danne W. Taylor, who was such a hit last fall as the character inspired by Tennessee Williams in HIS GREATNESS. At the same time, HURRICANE DAMAGE explores the generational changes since the 1970s through the relationship of the young handyman, Ford, to his friends Oscar and Dennis."

Berglund has appeared in two Pride readings, THE RITZ and SAVE THE DATE. With other companies, he has played such roles as Malvolio in TWELFTH NIGHT, Pseudolus in A FUNNY THING..., and Lucien P. Smith in THE BOYS NEXT DOOR. Chiola appeared in Pride Films and Plays' productions of ANGRYFAGS by Topher Payne in the Steppenwolf Garage Rep, and SOME MEN by Terrence McNally. He was also seen in TAKE ME OUT by Eclectic Full Contact Theatre and ICARUS by BoHo Theatre. Jesse Montoya, who spent last summer touring Chicago parks in HAMLET by Midsommer Flight, will appear as Ford. The production will be directed by Paul J. Cook. His production and design team will include Evan Frank (scenic design), Cody Von Ruden (costume design), Becs Bartle (lighting design), Hillarie Shockley (properties design) and Julia Heeren (stage manager).

HURRICANE DAMAGE will alternate on the Broadway stage with the Chicago premiere of HOLDING THE MAN, a hit gay-themed drama from Australia chronicling the 15-year relationship of a real-life gay couple. These final two plays of the PAC Pride Series will close on Sunday, August 26 - just days before previews begin for the first show of Pride Films and Plays's previously announced five-show subscription season.

Tickets for all events are on sale now at www.pridefilmsandplays.com or by phone at 866-411-4111 or 773-857-0222

Kevin Brofsky (Playwright) is thrilled to be having his PFP and Chicago debut. He has written nearly 50 one-act plays which have been performed in New York, Los Angeles, Orlando, Overland Park, Kansas and Dublin, Ireland including SHVESTERS, (Holocaust Memorial Museum, Los Angeles), Tom Cruise, GET OFF THE COUCH (International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival), and WHEN MY LOVE COMES ALONG (Turnip Festival, winner Best Play). Off-Broadway productions include CLAYMONT (Emerging Artists), THE MATINEE LADIES (Greenwich House, NY and SNAPfest Omaha) and the book for the musical NORTHERN BOULEVARD (AMAS Theater (Rosetta LeNoire, artistic director).

Paul Cook (Director) created the recent PAC Valentine's Day event, MY DEAR BOY: GAY LOVE LETTERS THROUGH THE CENTURIES. Some recent Chicago-area projects include THE LANGUAGE ARCHIVE at Oakton Community College, LES MISERABLES at the Chicago High School for the Arts and serving as Assistant Director for Midsommer Flight's TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA. Upcoming projects include SPIRIT: THE AUTHENTIC STORY OF THE BELL WITCH in Adams, Tennessee.