CROSS PURPOSES & THE EXPERT to Open at American Theatre of Actors
Ken Coughlin directs an ensemble cast including Amanda Cannon and Riyadh Rollins at the Beckmann Stage.
The historic American Theatre of Actors will present a dynamic double feature of new plays by acclaimed playwright Frank Cossa. Under the sharp direction of Ken Coughlin, Cross Purposes and The Expert will run for a strictly limited, two-week engagement from June 3 through June 14, 2026, at the ATA's Beckmann Stage as part of its theatrical complex.
This provocative, 80-minute evening features an ensemble cast including Amanda Cannon, Cristina Vera, Jonathan Beebe, and Riyadh Rollins, delivering a masterclass in contemporary drama, razor-sharp comedy, and social critique.
The evening kicks off with Cross Purposes, a quick-witted, gripping snapshot of contemporary friction that plays out over a coffee, a diet coke, a hangover, and a crucifix inside a local diner.
The story follows a brilliant but deeply hungover professor who finds himself caught in a vice of intense judgment, facing the sharp, simultaneous disapproval of a no-nonsense waitress and his own student.
Following the intermission, the energy pivots to the unexpected comedic twists of The Expert. The setup is simple: Jack thinks he's hired an art expert to evaluate a painting he's inherited. The execution? A wild, "Just YES!" ride of assumptions, credentials, and deception that will leave audiences second-guessing who the real expert in the room actually is.
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