Ben Rimalower's PATTI ISSUES to Play RTP & HATTheater this Spring

Carol Piersol and Richmond Triangle Players present PATTI ISSUES by Ben Rimalower, playing at RTP in Scott's Addition March 3 - 11 and at HATTheatre in RVA's Far West End March 20 - April 5, as part of RVA's Acts of Faith Festival. Two-time RTCC Best Actor nominee Billy Christopher Maupin (A BRIGHT NEW BOISE, TWELFTH NIGHT, SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN) stars as Ben Rimalower. Carol Piersol (Founding Artistic Director of the Firehouse Theatre Project, Producer of BREAST IN SHOW, GIDION'S KNOT, and RACE) directs.

When Ben Rimalower was eight years old, his father came out of the closet and embarked on a drug-fueled tear that left his family in tatters. Amid the chaos of his young life, Ben found comfort-like so many gay boys before him and after-in musical theater, and specifically in the transportive voice of Broadway star Patti LuPone.

"The play is an intimate look at Ben Rimalower's life, his love of and obsession with Patti LuPone, and how his life has been influenced by his gay father," notes co-producer and director Carol Piersol. "There is no one I would rather work with on this sensitive portrayal than Billy Christopher, a fine actor whose diverse work includes solo cabaret performances as well as critically-acclaimed theatrical roles, such as Something Intangible and Race. The production is a fitting partnership with RTP and I am delighted to be working with Phil Crosby to bring this regional premiere to Richmond."

Patti Issues marks Rimalower's debut as a playwright, after serving as the director of numerous Off-Broadway plays, concerts and all-star benefits (and blogging for the Huffington Post). With a mix of comic irreverence, stark candor and show-biz bravado, Patti Issues poignantly explores the challenges facing LGBT parents and children while shining unique light on gay men's time-old obsessions with divas.

Ben Rimalower writes, "I began the process of creating PATTI ISSUES because I wanted to write a play, and somewhere along the way, I became an actor performing the show in New York for a year and on tour for the foreseeable future. The Carol Piersol and Richmond Triangle Players' premiere regional production brings me full circle as I get to see a totally new interpretation of my words in the hands of an entirely new team, led by star Billy Christopher Maupin and director Carol Piersol, two of the most exciting theater artists in Virginia. I couldn't be more thrilled and grateful."

Performances March 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11 at 8PM and March 8 at 4PM at Richmond Triangle Players, 1300 Altamont Avenue, Richmond,VA, and March 20, 21, 22, 27, April 3, 4, 5 at 8PM and March 30 at 4PM at HATTheatre, 1124 Westbriar Drive, Richmond,VA. Talkbacks with the cast and special guests will follow select performances. Tickets are $25 (Groups of 10 or more - $18, Students - $10) and can be purchased by visiting http://www.rtriangle.org.

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