Photo Flash: First Look at Keen Co's SURELY GOODNESS & MERCY

Performances began Tuesday February 26th, for the New York premiere of Surely Goodness and Mercy, a truly Keen story about an exceptional boy living a troubled life in Newark, NJ who does a good deed for an often unnoticed person. Sarita Covington, Jay Mazyck, Brenda Pressley, Courtney Thomas, and Cezar Williams star under Jessi D. Hill's direction. Performances for this limited Off-Broadway engagement of Surely Goodness and Mercy will continue through Saturday April 13th only, with opening night set for Wednesday March 13th.

Set in an under-funded public school in Newark, Surely Goodness and Mercy by rising playwright Chisa Hutchinson, tells the story of a bible-toting boy with a photographic memory who befriends the cantankerous old lunch lady. Against all odds, Tino and Bernadette help each other through the mess of growing up and growing old. Surely Goodness and Mercy has spent the last year charming audiences across the country: "Notably absent from Hutchinson's frank and sobering story: cynicism" - Chicago Reader; "(Surely Goodness and Mercy has) a soul-stirring quality, touching audiences with its sincerity" - Daily Utah Chronicle; "it's impossible not to like it" - The Salt Lake Tribune. Now, Keen is honored to bring this big-hearted new play to New York for the first time.

All performances will be at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues) and will be Tuesday through Thursday evenings at 7pm; Fridays at 8pm; Saturdays at 2pm & 8pm; and Sunday matinees at 3pm. There will be two special student matinees: Wednesday March 20 and Wednesday March 27th.

Tickets for Surely Goodness and Mercy are $65; premium tickets $80; EXCEPT: all Tuesday shows will be only $25 for all seats! (All ticket prices include theater restoration fees.) Tickets are on sale NOW! Tickets may be purchased at the Theatre Row Box Office (410 West 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues), online at Telecharge.com, or by phone at 212-239-6200.

For more information about Surely Goodness and Mercy or any of Keen's programs, visitwww.keencompany.org

Photo Credit: Carol Rosegg