'Beachwood Drive' To Premiere at Abingdon Theatre Company 10/29

Abingdon Theatre Company will present the world premiere of BEACHWOOD DRIVE, a gripping new drama exploring contemporary themes of human trafficking, October 17 – November 16, 2008 at the Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex's June Havoc Theatre. The official opening will be on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at 7 PM.

BEACHWOOD DRIVE the story of Nadya, a Ukrainian woman brought to America and enslaved as part of a prostitution ring. In this compelling tale based on an actual police case, a single mother, Nadya becomes squeezed between her Russian Mafia protectors and the LAPD detective who arrests her in a sting operation.

Steven Leigh Morris (Playwright) has had works commissioned, developed or produced by the Mark Taper Forum, The Actors' Gang, Los Angeles Theatre Center, Pacific Resident Theatre, A.S.K. Theatre Projects, and Playwrights Arena (Los Angeles), in addition to productions in London, Lublin and San Francisco.Morris has also been a playwright-in-residence at Moscow's Theatre on Spartacus Square. Among his proudest accomplishments is surviving six rounds of layoffs at the L.A. Weekly, where he serves as theater critic/editor. He has also had arts commentaries/profiles published in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times. DRAMA Magazine in London, and the Center for Arts Policy, Columbia College, Chicago, between serving as a consultant and on the faculty of the NEA/USC Arts Journalism Institute in Theater and Musical Theater. He has taught criticism at the University of Southern California, and also teaches theater at California State University, Dominguez Hills and San Bernardino campuses.

Director Alan. Mandell's versatile background includes work as a producer, director, actor and manager on and Off-Broadway and throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. He served as Consulting Director of the Los Angeles Theater Center where he directed productions of A RICH FULL LIFE, THE BIRTHDAY PARTY, Happy Days, THE CARETAKER and Strindberg's THE DANCE OF DEATH.  After co-founding the San Quentin Drama Workshop (where he taught acting and directing to prison inmates), he performed on tour through France and Germany with their original productions of WAITING FOR GODOT and ENDGAME, both directed by Samuel Beckett. He previously performed ENDGAME at Dublin's Abbey Theatre, in London's West End and on tour in Italy and in the film version, which he also directed. He also direcTed Mayo Simon's THE OLD LADY'S GUIDE TO SURVIVAL for the Actor's Theater of Louisville Humana Festival, Pittsburgh Public Theater and at the Wisdom Bridge Theatre in Chicago and off-Broadway. Mr. Mandell has been the recipient of many awards, including the first Career Achievement Award, presented by L.A. Weekly in 1993.

The cast features Peter Brouwer, David Medina, Kat Peters, Maria Silverman, Lena Starostina and Brenda Thomas.

Set Design is by Ken Larson, Costume Design is by Deborah J. Caney, Lighting Design is by Matthew McCarthy, Sound Design is by David Margolin Lawson and Video Design is by Kymberly Mortensen.

BEACHWOOD DRIVE is a LIMITED ENGAGEMENT with 32 performances only! Performances are Tues, Weds & Thurs at 7:00 PM; Fri & Sat at 8:00 PM. Matinees are Sat & Sun at 2:00 PM. (There is no performance on Tuesday, November 4th. However, an added performance will be on Sunday, November 9th, at 6:30 PM)

All tickets are $40 and can be purchased by calling SmartTix 212.868.4444, visiting www.smarttix.com or at the box office one hour prior to each performance.

Abingdon Theatre Complex is located at 312 West 36th St, just off of 8th Avenue. Founded in 1993, Abingdon Theatre Company develops and produces new plays by American Playwrights.  Artistic Director for Abingdon Theatre Company is Jan Buttram and Samuel J. Bellinger is the Managing Director.

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