David Harrower's KNIVES IN HENS Makes NYC Debut Tonight at 59E59 Theaters

59E59 Theaters presents the NYC premiere of Knives in Hens, written by David Harrower and directed by Paul Takacs. Produced by The Shop, Knives in Hens begins performances tonight, October 19, for a limited engagement through Sunday, November 12. Press Opening is Sunday, October 29 at 3:30 PM.

The play that launched David Harrower's stratospheric career makes its NYC premiere! Knives in Hens, considered a classic play in Europe and celebrated for its powerful, poetic language, arrives at 59E59 Theaters. Director Paul Takacs reimagines the critically acclaimed play in the American frontier and with a multicultural cast, making this production a uniquely American version of Harrower's stark tale.

Set in a world on the cusp of change, the fates of a young woman, her plowman husband, and a locAl Miller collide in a quest for knowledge, agency, and freedom. David Harrower's seminal work unpacks the subtle power of words and ideas to liberate, empower, and lift the mind and soul.

The cast features Alvin Keith (Broadway's Cat on a Hot Tin Roof), Robyn Kerr (Broadway's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time; Philip Ridley's Dark Vanilla Jungle with The Shop at HERE), and Shane Taylor (Jitney at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park).

The design team includes Steven Kemp (scenic design); Dante Olivia Smith (lighting design); Sydney Gallas (costume design); and Toby Jaguar Algya (sound design). Steven Hoggett's protégé Yasmine Lee, who choreographed The Shop's production of Philip Ridley's Tender Napalm at 59E59 Theaters, returns as the movement director.

The performance schedule is Tuesday - Thursday at 7:30 PM, Friday at 8:30 PM; Saturday at 2:30 PM and 8:30 PM; and Sunday at 3:30 PM. Performances are at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street, between Park and Madison Avenues). Single tickets are $25 ($20 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or visit www.59e59.org.

David Harrower (playwright) is an internationally acclaimed playwright who currently lives and works in Glasgow. Previous work includes Ciara (Traverse Theatre); Calum's Road (Communicado Theatre Co, National Theatre of Scotland); A Slow Air (Tron Theatre, Glasgow; 59E59 Theaters); Good with People (Paines Plough/ Oran Mor, Traverse Theatre, 59E59 Theaters); 365 (National Theatre of Scotland); Blackbird (Edinburgh International Festival, West End, Manhattan Theatre Club and Sydney Theatre Company); Dark Earth (Traverse Theatre); Presence (Royal Court Theatre); Kill the Old Torture Their Young (Traverse Theatre); and Knives in Hens (Traverse Theatre and Bush Theatre). Adaptations include Public Enemy, Government Inspector, The Good Soul of Szechuan, Six Characters In Search Of An Author (Young Vic Theatre); Sweet Nothings (a new version of Schnitzler's Liebelei); Tales From The Vienna Woods, Ivanov (National Theatre); The Girl On The Sofa (Edinburgh International Festival and the Schaubuhne, Berlin); Woyzeck (Edinburgh Lyceum Theatre); Mary Stuart (National Theatre of Scotland); and The Chrysalids (National Theatre, BTConnections). David's work for the screen includes White Male Heart for Brocken Spectre/Samson Films (based on the novel by Ruardh Nicholl) and his own adaptation of his play Blackbird, produced by Jean Douminian Productions and directed by Benedict Andrews, which was released under the title Una. He is also developing an original series idea for Ecosse/BBC Scotland.

Paul Takacs (director) is the founding Artistic Director of The Shop and most recently directed The New York premiere of Philip Ridley's Dark Vanilla Jungle for The Shop at HERE Arts Center in New York. Other work includes the world premiere of David Pinski's Yiddish play Professor Brenner for New Worlds Theatre Project at HERE Arts Center, the U.S. premiere of Jan Fosse's I Am The Wind translated by Simon Stephens for The Shop at 59E59 Theaters and the premiere of a new translation of Peretz Hirshbein's Yiddish play Carcass for New Worlds Theatre Project at HERE Arts Center. He also directed the U.S. premiere of Philip Ridley's Tender Napalm for The Shop at 59E59 Theaters. His work has been seen at NYU; The Samuel French New Play Festival; The Red Room, NYC; The Cell Theatre, NYC; The New School for Drama, NYC; Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, DC; The Theatre Alliance, DC; Spooky Action Theatre, DC; Washington Shakespeare Company, DC; and Theatre of the First Amendment, VA. He has worked on new plays with John Strand, Heather Lynn MacDonald, and Judith Goudsmit to name but a few. He holds a BA in Drama from St. Mary's College of Maryland and an MFA in Directing from the New School for Drama. He has taught at St. Mary's College of Maryland and has served as a teaching artist for Shakespeare Theatre Company as well as the Folger Shakespeare Library, and is currently on faculty at the Stella Adler Studio in New York.

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