Photo Flash: 5th Wall Theatre Presents TALK RADIO

5th Wall Theatre amps up its 2018-2019 season with Pulitzer-nominated Talk Radio starring Scott Wichmann. Written by American stage provocateur and bad-boy Eric Bogosian, Talk Radio gives us a glimpse into the night-life of talk radio host Barry Champlain. Not just a chronicle of radio life, this play weaves together juicy incites and observations on life, love, commercialism, and free speech in America.

The play premiered in New York City at The Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival in 1987 starring Bogosian as Barry Champlain. In 2007 the play was revived on Broadway starring Liev Schreiber as Champlain. In a review of the 2007 production, the New York Daily News stated that Talk Radio was "More timely today than it was twenty years ago..." Now thirty years since its first production, at a time when discussions of first-amendment rights can be heard on almost all media platforms, Talk Radio once again proves its social relevance.

Opening January 11th, with a preview on January 10th, 5th Wall Theatre brings you the wry humor of Talk Radio directed by Morrie Piersol and the dark, witty, and edgy character of Barry Champlain played by the incomparable Scott Wichmann. When asked about working with Scott on Talk Radio, director Morrie Piersol stated: "I have directed Scotty in three productions and am always eager to work with him. Last spring, he brought Talk Radio to the table. I love Bogosian's plays due to their typically gritty subject matter and fringe characters, and when I read Talk Radio, those same things grabbed me. I could immediately see Scotty fully immersing himself in Barry Champlain and couldn't wait to see what would come out. I still can't."

Talk Radio begins with a Preview Performance on January 10th and runs from January 11-26, 2019. Special Community Night Performances will be held on January 13 and 22, 2019. All performances at the Basement, 300 E Broad Street, Richmond VA. Details on how to purchase tickets for the shows in 5th Wall's 2018-2019 season will be released on 5th Wall's website at5thwalltheatre.org.

Photo Credit: Tom Topinka