PHANTOM KILLER Begins Off-Broadway 1/22

Off-Broadway's Abingdon Theatre Company continues its 17th Season with the world premiere of PHANTOM KILLER. A new thriller by Jan Buttram, author of "Texas Homos"

Directed by Jules Ochoa
Previews begin January 22 at Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex (312 West 36th Street)
Opening January 31

Abingdon Theatre Company continues its 2009-10 Off-Broadway season with the world premiere of PHANTOM KILLER -- a new thriller about a mysterious murderer stalking the residents of a rural Texas town, by Abingdon Theatre Company Artistic Director Jan Buttram -- set to begin previews on January 22, prior to an official press opening January 31, at Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex's Dorothy Streslin Theatre (312 West 36th Street) in Manhattan. Jules Ochoa to direct.

In PHANTOM KILLER, on a scorching hot Texas night in 1946, Luke parks on a deserted country road with his new wife Jessie. A Texas Ranger searches the same road, hunting a serial killer. Before the three part ways, plans change, a deal is struck, a heart breaks, and everyone is guilty. Wrenn Schmidt, recently seen Off-Broadway in JAILBAIT, co-stars as Jessie; with Denny Bess as Randy, the Texas Ranger; and Jon McCormick as Luke.

PHANTOM KILLER features set design by David B. Ogle; costume design by Kimberly Matela; lighting design by Travis McHale; and sound design by David Margolin Lawson. Production stage manager is Genevieve Ortiz.

Playwright Jan Buttram is the Artistic Director and founding member of the Abingdon Theatre Company, which has produced her plays TEXAS HOMOS; GLORY GIRLS; THE PRESIDENT AND HER MISTRESS; ZONA, THE GHOST OF GREENBRIER; PRIVATE BATTLES; and THE PARKER FAMILY CIRCUS. Ms. Buttram began her professional theatre career as an actress with the New
Orleans Repertory Theatre, under the direction of June Havoc. She received a major grant from the Berrilla Kerr Foundation and the 1995 Roger L. Stevens Award from the Kennedy Center's Fund for New American Plays. TEXAS HOMOS was published in Smith and Kraus' Ten Best New Plays of 2005.

PHANTOM KILLER was also developed this past summer at the Telluride Playwrights Festival; Jennie Franks, Executive Director.

Jules Ochoa's NYC directing credits include Frawley Becker's TIGER BY THE TAIL, Michael Murphy's ST. VINCENT DESIGN, and Steve Salinaro's LEPRECHAUNS for the Wings Theatre Company; Craig Lucas' IF COLUMBUS DOES NOT FIGURE IN YOUR TRAVEL PLANS (Theatre Four); Suzanne Bradbeer's LONE STAR GRACE (Stamford Center); Lanford Wilson's THE GREAT NEBULA IN ORION (HERE); and four plays by Daniel Reitz for the HB Playwrights Foundation. Mr. Ochoa has served as assistant director to Jonathan Kent on the Broadway revival of MAN OF LA MANCHA;
Christopher Ashley on THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, COMMUNICATING DOORS, and BUNNY BUNNY; John Tillinger on TEA AT FIVE, HOTEL SUITE, and THE EXACT CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE; Lynne Meadow on BOY GETS GIRL and BLUR; Gene Saks on Mr. GoldWYN and Tennessee Williams REMEMBERED; Chris Renshaw and Des McAnuff on HIGH SOCIETY; and as the assistant resident
director on THE LION KING.

Since 1993, Abingdon Theatre Company has developed and produced new plays by American Playwrights exclusively. Our actors, directors, designers, producers and dramaturgs have collaborated with more than 200 playwrights to develop original plays. Under the guidance of
Artistic Director Jan Buttram and Managing Director Sam Bellinger, the company provides a safe home in which playwrights collaborate with other theatre artists and receive audience feedback through the utilization of a four-step development process: Page 2 Stage, Staged Readings, and Workout Labs, which culminate in Studio and Mainstage Productions.

Abingdon opened its current season this past October with INVENTING AVI by Robert Cary and Benjamin Feldman. In addition to PHANTOM KILLER, the company's 17th season continues with the NYC premiere of John Morogiello's ENGAGING SHAW (April 9-May 2), directed by Jackob G.
Hofmann; and the NYC premiere of Stephen Swift's SISTER MYOTIS'S BIBLE CAMP (June 11-July 4), directed by Jerre Dye.

Performances of PHANTOM KILLER run January 22 through February 14 at the Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex's Dorothy Streslin Theatre (312 West 36th Street): Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:00pm; Fridays at 8:00pm; Saturdays at 2:00pm and 8:00pm; and Sundays at 2:00pm. Tickets are $25. For reservations, visit www.abingdontheatre.org or call 212-868-2055.

 

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