Neil LaBute Directs Benefit Performances Of His All New Shorts For MCC Theater Through 6/5

MCC Theater (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) today announced that Playwright-in-Residence Neil LaBute will direct three special benefit performances of his all new ‘shorts' series, Filthy Talk for Troubled Times: Scenes of Intolerance for the company. Performances will take place June 3, 4 and 5, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC). Proceeds will support MCC Theater's Playwrights' Coalition program, free PlayLab reading series and literary development activities.

"America's reigning misanthrope" (The Village Voice) Neil LaBute gets down and dirty once more in Filthy Talk for Troubled Times. Sex, sexism, bigotry and even "Frank f----n' Sinatra" are all given the one-two punch in this finely fused attack on the degraded rubble we sometimes call American culture. Internationally renowned for his darkly-comic morality plays (Some Girl(s), Fat Pig), and fresh off the Tony Award-nominated Broadway run of Reasons to Be Pretty, Neil LaBute returns to MCC Theater to direct his latest provocation for three benefit performances only. Casting information will be forthcoming.

New and renewing MCC subscribers may purchase tickets for this World Premiere event priced between $39 and $99 starting today, April 23. Tickets will go on sale to the general public May 12. Tickets may be purchased by visiting www.mcctheater.org or by calling (212) 279-4200. The Thursday, June 3 performance will include an exclusive post-show celebration with members of the company. Specially-priced tickets for this celebration can be purchased by contacting the MCC Development Department at (212) 727-7722 ext. 233.

As previously announced, another LaBute play The Break of Noon, directed by Jo Bonney, will open MCC's 25th Anniversary Season this fall. The season will also feature the plays The Other Place by fast-rising playwright Sharr White and Side Effects by Michael Weller, a companion piece to MCC Theater's acclaimed 2008 hit Fifty Words. Season subscriptions are also on sale today, April 23 and can be purchased by visiting www.mcctheater.org or by calling (212) 279-4200.

MCC Theater is one of New York City's leading Off Broadway theater companies, committed to presenting New York and world premieres each season. When MCC Theater was founded in 1986, its mission was simple: to bring new theatrical voices to theater-going audiences. MCC Theater continues to accomplish this yearly through presentation of its mainstage works; its Literary Program, which actively seeks and develops new and emerging writers and its Education & Outreach Program, allowing more than 1,200 students yearly to experience theater, increase literacy and discover their own voices in the arts. Notable MCC Theater highlights include: the 2008 Tony Award-nominated reasons to be pretty by Neil LaBute, last season's Fifty Words, the 2004 Tony-winning production of Bryony Lavery's Frozen; Neil LaBute's Fat Pig; Rebecca Gilman's The Glory of Living; Marsha Norman's Trudy Blue; Margaret Edson's Pulitzer Prize-winning Wit; Tim Blake Nelson's The Grey Zone and Alan Bowne's Beirut. Over the years, the dedication to the work of new and emerging artists has earned MCC Theater a variety of awards.

For a complete production history, visit www.mcctheater.org.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.

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