Tim Realbuto's Dark, New Play Opens Tonight Off-Broadway

After a sold-out run in NYC at the Emerging Artists Theatre and an acclaimed production at the Detroit Fringe Festival earlier this year, popular up-and-coming actor/writer Tim Realbuto's new play YES opens tonight, January 19, for a short run at the Hudson Guild Theater off-Broadway.

Realbuto, who also stars in the piece, and his co-star Joe Blute, will reprise the roles they created for the January 2016 production. Realbuto and Blute also starred in the Emerging Artists and Detroit productions of the play.

According to press notes, "YES is a one-act, two-person drama about Patrick Ness (Realbuto), a fading star in his 30's who now teaches private acting lessons in NYC, and the relationship that forms with Jeremiah (Blute), his new teenage student that Patrick happened to see in a high school production of Romeo and Juliet. What begins as an innocent acting lesson turns into a sick game of cat and mouse, resulting in mental torture, sexual advances, and perhaps the destruction of two (possibly) innocent people. Who will win the game? Will anyone win at all?"

Realbuto, who is most know co-writing the musical GHOSTLIGHT, will also direct the production. Paul Mitchell Wilder will serve as the production stage manager as well as understudy both roles. Wilder is also the lighting designer. It is being produced and presented by the Venus/Adonis Theater Festival.

Realbuto's numerous stage credits include Alan in MEAN the musical (written by Grammy Award winning pop icon P!nk), Antigonus in THE WINTER'S TALE PROJECT at The NYC Fringe Festival, and Fransicu in the Off-Broadway premiere of WHITE WIDOW at The Times Square Arts Center. He is well known for creating and starring in the tour WUNDERKIND about his life growing up in the theatre. WUNDERKIND has played at venues such as Joe's Pub, 54 Below, and The New York Musical Theatre Festival.

On screen, Realbuto is known for his work in the Kevin Kline feature film THE EMPEROR'S CLUB, as well as appearances on HBO's "The Sopranos", NBC's "Ed", and as a co-host on Nickelodeon's short-lived "The Big Help." For more info, visit www.TimRealbutoOfficial.com.

Blute received the coveted role of Jeremiah after Realbuto auditioned hundreds of actors. Blute has appeared in the independent films GHOSTS IN OUR HEARTS; TO PROTECT AND SERVE; ARNOLD GOLDSTEIN; and GRANDPA ARNOLD, which is a popular hit on the current film festival circuit. His onstage credits include RECESS WEDDING (68 Cent Theatre Company), MIND GAMES (TBD), THE PREGNANCY PROJECT (Roy Arias), ECHOES (Times Square Performing Arts Center), A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, and ROMEO AND JULIE. Blute is a graduate of the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York City. For more information on Blute, visit www.joeblute.com.

YES opens tonight, January 19th at 6:15 PM. It will take a brief hiatus before continuing on Saturday, January 23rd at 8:30. It will then play its final performance on Sunday, January 24th at 1:00 PM. Tickets, priced at $23, are currently available to the general public by clicking here. All performances of YES will take place at The Hudson Guild Theater, 441 West 26th Street (between 9th and 10th Avenues) in NYC.

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