Amoralists' 2010 Season to Feature HAPPY IN THE POORHOUSE, GHOSTS IN COTTONWOODS & AMERISSIAH

Following on the heels of their critically acclaimed and wildly popular production of The Pied Pipers of the Lower East Side, The Amoralists will proudly present three shows as part of their highly anticipated 2010 Off-Broadway theater season. The season will include the World Premiere of Happy In The Poorhouse, written and directed by Derek Ahonen, running March 11 - April 5; the Off-Broadway Premiere of Amerissiah, written and directed by Derek Ahonen, running June 3 - 27; and the NY Premiere of Ghosts in the Cottonwoods, written and directed by Obie Award-winner Adam Rapp, running November 11 - December 5.

All performances will take place at Theatre 80 St. Marks, the former home of The Pearl Theatre Company, located at 80 St. Marks Place between 1st and 2nd Avenues in NYC. For more information visit www.TheAmoralists.com.

The group's first show of the season, Happy In The Poorhouse, running March 11 - April 5 in a limited engagement, takes place on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays at 8pm and Sundays at 5pm. Previews begin March 11 for a March 13 opening. Tickets are $40 for adults and $20 for students and can be purchased online at www.Theatre80.org or by calling 212-388-0388. Running time is 2 hours including one intermission. Capacity is 160 seats. Trains: R, W to 8th St, 6 to Astor Place, F, V to 2nd Ave or L to 1st Ave.

Paulie "The Pug" is a Coney Island dreamer...just one MMA fight away from the big time. If only he could keep his wife from screwing her ex-husband, his brother-in-law from going to the slammer, and his best friend from taking a bite out of his neck, he'd be on top of the world. A comedy full of weak wrists and strong hearts, Happy In The Poorhouse is an unsanitized story of love and sex that will make you think twice about not pulling out!

The Amoralists is a theatre company that produces work with no moral judgment by new and emerging playwrights. Dedicated to an honest expression of the American condition, their actor-driven ensemble explores complex characters of moral ambiguity. They seek to initiate a dialogue between artists and audience, and put theatre at the heart of our community. Rollicking, rebellious and raw, their work will go home with you...Boom!

Derek Ahonen is the resident playwright of The Amoralists Theatre Company. His plays with The Amoralists include The Pied Pipers of the Lower East Side, The Hey You Monster Part One: Pokin The Bears In A Zoo and Part Two: Bring Us The Head Of Your Daughter (both published by United Stages) and While Chasing The Fantastic. Martin Denton of NYTheatre.com says "His talent as a playwright is very impressive...in the manner of Sam Shepard or Tracy Letts (though laced throughout with Ahonen's trademark social consciousness, which distinguishes this young playwright from his antecedents)."

The cast includes William Apps, Selene Beretta, James Kautz, Nick Lawson, Sarah Lemp, Morton Matthews, Patrick McDaniel, Rochelle Mikulich, Matthew Pilieci, Mark Riccadonna and Meghan Ritchie. The design and production team consists of Alfred Shatz (Set Design), Jeremy Pape (Lighting Design), Ricky Lang (Costume Design), The Hernandez Brothers (Sound Design), Alfred Shatz (Fight Choreography), Dan Lockhart (Assistant Director), Judy Merrick (Stage Manager) and Larry Cobra (Spiritual Advisor).  Critical acclaim for The Amoralists' The Pied Pipers of the Lower East Side

"Ahonen has written full, complex characters, and the committed cast approaches them with sincerity and heart. This is exciting work, fresh and refreshing: The Pied Pipers of the Lower East Side makes you want to follow the Amoralists wherever they go next." ~ TimeOut NY, Adam Feldman (4 out of 5 stars)

"The Pied Pipers is fast, funny, raucous, and in your face. All are outstanding. Considerably smart and complex. I'll certainly follow The Amoralists work from now on."

~ The New York Post, Elisabeth Vincentelli

"Rendered with brassy verve by the troupe the Amoralists...deservedly extended at Performance Space 122...exhilarating." ~ The New York Times, Andy Webster

"A nearly three-hour dose of high-energy Steppenwolf-style realism. The young company's deep commitment and contagious exuberance brings to mind the vitality that distinguished the early Off-Off Broadway work of artists like Sam Shepard only a generation ago."

~ The New Yorker, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins

"Invigorating, refreshing and subversively uproarious...an exhilarating emotional ride."

~ Variety, Steven Suskin

Celebrate the unveiling of the hotly anticipated 2010 Amoralists theater season by joining them on Sunday, February 21, from 7pm - 1am at Crash Mansion at 199 Bowery in NYC. For details visit www.TheAmoralists.com. RSVP at amoralistsRSVP@gmail.com.

The Amoralists is a critically acclaimed theatre company that was formed in 2006 by actors James Kautz and Matthew Pilieci, and playwright/director Derek Ahonen on a car ride to Las Vegas. With a goal of winning $50,000 to start their company they lost $5,000 and founded it regardless. Through its first three seasons The Amoralists have produced six original full-length plays to rave reviews and sold out houses. In 2009, Meghan Ritchie and Matthew Fraley joined the Amoralists family as producing partners. That summer, their play, The Pied Pipers of the Lower East Side, ran from June 2 to October 5, extending two times before transferring successfully to an Off Broadway run. The play was named to numerous 2009 Top Ten Lists, including Elisabeth Vincentelli's of The New York Post and Adam Feldman's of TimeOut New York. Amoralists' plays are published and available at Barnes and Noble, The Drama Bookshop and Amazon.com.