NEXT FALL Comes To The Jungle Theater,Closes 5/22

When a Christian gives an atheist the Heimlich Maneuver, love sparks and lives change in this award-winning Broadway hit about two men in love, two parents in denial, and two friends on speed dial. NEXT FALL takes a funny and provocative look at what it means to "believe"-and what it may cost us not to.

Closing May 22, Next Fall has its area premiere at the Jungle Theater, located at 2951 Lyndale Ave. So. in Minneapolis. Directed by Joel Sass, this thought-provoking and always human play about faith, love and commitment examines the five-year relationship between atheist Adam (Ivey Award-winning Garry Geiken) and fundamentalist Christian Luke (Neil Skoy, in his professional debut). The family drama-romantic comedy also stars Stephen Yoakam (Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf) and Maggie Bearmon Pistner (in her Jungle debut) as Luke's parents, and Andrea Leap (The Rivals) and Sasha Andreev (also in his Jungle debut) as friends Holly and Brandon.

"Next Fall's use of humor to tell an unlikely couple's story resonates with audiences," said Sass. "Although the play grapples with a lot of big issues, it never feels preachy, condescending or dogmatic. It does, however, spark a lot of passionate discussion."

Written by Geoffrey Nauffts and first presented in 2009 by Naked Angels, a scrappy New York City theater company in its tiny 99-seat theatre, Next Fall went on to garner a 2010 Tony Award nomination for Best Play and Best Director, and win the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best New American Play. As the play grew in popularity, it continued moving to larger venues, touching an ever-widening range of people with its story of a loving couple, their commitment severely tested. Ben Brantley of The New York Times described Next Fall as "artful, thoughtful and very moving... an intellectual stealth bomb," and Adam Feldman of Time Out New York called it a, "funny, romantic, truthful and heartbreaking new drama."

The Next Fall creative team includes Greg Brosofske (composer), Barry Browning (lighting designer), Amelia Cheever (costume designer), Wu Chen Khoo (technical director), C. Andrew Mayer (sound designer), John Novak (properties) and Joel Sass (scenic designer),

TICKET INFORMATION
Next Fall opens Friday, April 8, and closes Sunday, May 23, at the Jungle Theater, 2951 Lyndale Ave. So., Minneapolis. Performances are Tuesdays ($20) and Wednesdays ($25) at 7:30 p.m.; Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. ($30); Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. ($35); Sundays at 2 p.m. ($30); and Sundays at 7:30 p.m. ($25). Senior, student and group discounts are also available, and half-price rush tickets are available every night of the week 30 minutes prior to the performance for $10 off the regular price. Tickets are available at (612) 822-7063 or online at www.jungletheater.com