Thinking Cap Theatre to Stage U.S. Premiere of HOT DOG, 5/16-6/1

Remember all those adages about dogs? In Sarah Kosar's biting dark comedy, many of those adages ring true and compel the story in ways that will surprise audiences.

In keeping with its mission to present experimental and thought provoking theatre and to program works by women, Thinking Cap Theatre will mount the U.S. premiere of hot dog by Sarah Kosar from May 16 through June 1 in the Black Box Theatre at Nova Southeastern University's Don Taft University Center.

An absurdist dark comedy in the vein of Albee and Beckett, hot dog centers on Maryanne, a long-suffering daughter fed up with caring for her very demanding, elderly mother, who's literally become "the Dog" next door. Desperate for a new leash on life, Maryanne recruits her sister, Carol, to return home and take over. What ensues is a funny, disturbing, and thought provoking exploration of family dynamics and what it means to give and receive care.

hot dog features a strong cast of South Florida actors, including Sally Bondi as Dog, Niki Fridh and Ann Marie Olson as Dog's daughters, and Mark Duncan, as Dog's son-in-law. A team of women artists will spearhead this premiere production: Nicole Stodard (direction, sound, and costume), Chastity Collins (scenic design and costume), Carey Brianna Hart (stage management), Cat Del Buono (video artist), Desiree Mora (board operation), and Axy Carrion-Bannon (makeup), production artwork (Donna Sanna). The show's production image, an anthropomorphic digital design by Donna Sanna, along with other unique anthropomorphic images by Sanna, will be available for purchase at performances of hot dog. Sanna's complete body of work can be found online at Etsy.com.

Sarah Kosar is an American stage and screen writer currently living in London. Her play hot dog received its world premiere in March 2013 at The Last Refuge, in London and was produced by Decent and published by Playdead Press. Pennsylvania State University has included the play in the syllabus for its Women in Theatre course. She holds a double BA from Pennsylvania State University in both Theatre and Film. Sarah moved to London following university and earned a Masters in Writing for Stage and Broadcast Media from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in 2011; she received a distinction on her dissertation play Egg, which was featured in a showcase of commended plays submitted to the BBC's International Playwriting Competition.

In London, Sarah has worked with The Royal Court, Hampstead Theatre, Soho Theatre, Theatre Centre, The Roundhouse, The Lyric Hammersmith, Descent, the BBC, The Old Red Lion, Southwark Playhouse, Arch 468 and more. She has taken part in the Royal Court Young Writers Programme, Royal Court Studio Invitation Group, Lyric Young Writers, and Soho Writers Lab.

There will be a 'talk back' and book signing with playwright Sarah Kosar, director Nicole Stodard, and the cast of hot dog after the Sunday (3 pm) performance on May 18th.

While its permanent home, The Vanguard, is under construction this spring, Thinking Cap Theatre has the honor of being the guest resident theatre company at Nova Southeastern University. hot dog will run from May 16th through June 1st in NSU's Black Box Theatre in the Don Taft University Center. Tickets are on sale now, and can be purchased at www.thinkingcaptheatre.com or by calling 813-220-1546.

For more information about Thinking Cap Theatre, visit www.thinkingcaptheatre.com.