The Target Margin Theater Presents THE REALLY BIG ONCE Premiere 4/13 - 5/8

Target Margin Theater (David Herskovits, Artistic Director), in association with the Ontological-Hysteric Incubator (Richard Forman, Artistic Director), has announced full casting for the world premiere of The Really Big Once, a new play, created by the company, that tells the story of two theatrical giants, Elia Kazan and Tennessee Williams, and how they changed American culture. Under the direction of David Herskovits, the five-member cast features McKenna Kerrigan, John Kurzynowski, Maria-Christina Oliveras, Hubert Point-Du Jour, and Steven Rattazzi. Performances begin Tuesday, April 13, 2010 for a limited engagement through May 8, 2010 at The Ontological Theater at St. Mark's Church (131 East 10th Street at Second Avenue). Opening Night is Saturday evening, April 17th at 8:00 p.m.

The Really Big Once explores the Kazan/Williams collaboration on one of their most celebrated plays, Camino Real, and is based on meticulous research of (and access to) their notebooks, letters and recollections, with the permission and support of the Kazan and Williams estates.

Between 1948 and 1953 Williams and Kazan developed one of their most ambitious productions in the context of a crucial moment in their growth as artists and in the life of our country. Target Margin Theater's project incorporates a broad range of documentary sources, as well as selections of dialogue and scenes from the existing versions and drafts of Williams' play- and much of this work has never been revealed or is unpublished. Interviews were conducted by the company with people and artists who saw or were influenced by the original production of Camino Real.

In 1952 Elia Kazan wrote to Tennessee Williams stating, "...When most things are called "new" or "difficult" in the Theatre that means there is some little trick there that hasn't been seen before or hasn't been solved before. When I refer to this job as difficult, I mean it's difficult. I mean I don't know whether it will come off or not, but if it does, we will really be breaking new ground. I think we can do it!"

In announcing casting for this ambitious new work based on an extraordinary moment in theater history, David Herskovits commented, "We secured permission from both the Williams and the Kazan estates to use documentary materials. Our plans have grown out of significant long-term development. Since 2007 we have conducted workshops at New York Theater Workshop, Lincoln Center Theater and The Chocolate Factory. Our research has ranged through collections at Wesleyan University, The Harry Ransom Center of the University of Texas, The Lincoln Center Library, Columbia University's (archives)." He continued, "Last year, we mounted a full production of Williams' earlier play Ten Blocks on the Camino Real, the starting point for Kazan's subsequent involvement and culminates a full year of workshops with the world premiere of The Really Big Once."

The Really Big Once has many layers: Camino Real was an extraordinary experiment for Williams and Kazan. Neither had ever attempted such a surreal play, and their shared sense of artistic risk is palpable. The play flopped on Broadway, and yet it has endured and influenced generations of theater makers drawn to its poignant beauty. The work on Camino Real overlapped with Kazan's testimony for the House Un-American Activities Committee and its strange and sad aftermath for him. Kazan was never to regain his standing in the theatrical community he was perceived to have betrayed. The alienation which infuses Camino Real becomes exponentially more powerful when considered alongside the story of Kazan's HUAC testimony.

The creative team includes Laura Jellinek (Set), Carol Bailey (Costumes), Lenore Doxsee (Lights), Kate Marvin and Jim "Sneaky" Breitmeier (Sound). The Production Stage Managers are Shannon Case and Neal Wilkinson.

The Really Big Once plays the following performance schedule: Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 5:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m., and Sundays at 7:00 p.m. Please note: there is a special early performance on Tuesday, April 27th at 7: 00p.m.; an added performance on Wednesday, April 28th at 8:00 p.m.; and no performance on Friday, April 30th.

Tickets for The Really Big Once are priced at $25 and may be purchased by calling TheaterMania.com at (212) 352-3101, or by visiting the website at www.ontological.com. For additional information, please visit the Target Margin Theater website at www.targetmargin.org

TMT's 2009/2010 season is being created with the cooperation and support of the Estates of Elia Kazan and Tennessee Williams.

(L to R) Steven Rattazi, , Hubert Point-Du Jour, John Kurzynowski, McKenna Kerrigan, and Maria-Christina Oliveras (knelling) in the Target Margin Theater's world premiere of "The Really Big Once" a new play, created by the company, that tells the story of two theatrical giants, Elia Kazan and Tennessee Williams directed by David Herskovits. Performances begin April 13, 2010 at The Ontological Theater at St. Mark's Church. Photo credit: Sue Kessler.

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