'Main(e) Play' Premieres 1/16 with Gladis; Beckim Directs

Partial Comfort Productions presents the World Premiere of The Main(e) Play by Chad Beckim. Directed by Obie Award winner Robert O'Hara, the production stars Michael Gladis (best known as Paul Kinsey on AMC's critically acclaimed series "Mad Men"). Previews begin January 16 at The Lion Theater where Partial Comfort is a resident company. Opening night is scheduled for Wednesday, January 23.

"The Main(e) Play explores the colliding worlds of two brothers: Shane, a New York City actor desperate to connect to the sanctity of home, and his younger brother Roy, a single stay-at-home dad and sole caretaker of a dysfunctional seven-year-old. A return to Maine for Thanksgiving forces the brothers to confront the loss of tradition, raising the question: what happens when what was, is no longer?" explain press notes.

In addition to Michael Gladis, the production stars Alexander Alioto, Susan Dahl, Curran Connor and Allyson Morgan with sets by Caleb Levengood, lighting by Jason Jeunnette, costumes by Whitney Locher and sound by Daniel Odham.

The Main(e) Play runs January 16 - February 9, Wednesday - Saturday at 8PM. The Lion Theater is located in Theatre Row Studios (410 W. 42nd Street at 9th Avenue). Tickets are $18. For information or reservations call 212-279-4200 or visit www.ticketcentral.com.

Chad Beckim's plays include …a matter of choice, 'nami, and Lights Rise on Grace (winner of Outstanding Play at FringeNYC 2007 and a finalist for the 2007 Princess Grace Award). Beckim has a BFA in Theatre from Utica College, and is currently studying with Mac Wellman at Brooklyn College's MFA Playwrighting Program.  In July of 2007, Beckim was named one of "50 Playwrights to Watch" by the Dramatists Guild.

Robert O'Hara received a 2006 Obie Award for In The Continuum.  His other directing credits include Lights Rise on Grace, Insurrection: Holding History (The Public Theater; Oppenheimer Award for Best New American Play), American Ma(u)l (ACT/Magic Theater and The Culture Project);  The Wiz (Assistant Director to Des McAnuff), Raw Pearl (Broadway-bound Pearl Bailey bio-musical produced by Bill & Camille Cosby) as well as numerous regional productions. O'Hara has been awarded a Rockefeller Fellowship, NEA/TCG Fellowship, a Van Lier Fellow at New Dramatists,  the Sherwood Award from Mark Taper Forum, and the TANNE Award for Exceptional Body of Work. O'Hara received his MFA from Columbia University.

Partial Comfort Productions is a collaborative ensemble devoted to the development  and presentation of original new theater. The company was co-founded in 2002 by Chad Beckim and Molly Pearson.  Past productions include 'nami and ...a matter of choice by Chad Beckim, Open House (Best Ensemble Award winner at FringeNYC 2006); Craft and Nelson  by Sam Marks; Booty Candy by Robert O'Hara; Play by O'Hara, Chay Yew, Kia Corthron, Eddie Sanchez, Keith Adkins and Tracey Scott Wilson; and Edith Freni's Baby Girl. For more information visit www.partialcomfort.org.

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