Urban Stages Presents ReENTRY Through 3/7

Urban Stages (Frances Hill, Artistic Director, Lauren Schmiedel, Managing Director) will present the New York Premiere of Two River Theatre's celebrated production of ReEntry written by Emily Ackerman and KJ Sanchez, directed by Ms. Sanchez. ReEntry began on Saturday, February 6, and opened on Thursday, February 11, 2010 and is set to run through Sunday, March 7. Urban Stages is located at 259 West 30 Street (between 7th and 8th Avenues). Tickets are $40 and are available at Smarttix.com/ 212.868.4444.

ReEntry is an unflinching look at the lives of Marines returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. An honest, moving, surprisingly funny play based on interviews with privates and colonels, combat vets and clerks, and one particularly memorable family. ReEntry tells the stories you haven't heard. ReEntry is not about politics. It is not about the WHY of this war. It's about stepping off that plane and coming home, re-entering ones life, family and country - again.

The creation of ReEntry began at home: Ackerman has two brothers who have served multiple deployments in Iraq (both Marines) and Sanchez had five brothers in the military during the Vietnam War. Over the course of a year, Ackerman and Sanchez interviewed many Veterans, enlisting several as advisors to the play. These men and women became integral to the development of the play, reading each draft, providing feedback, insight and introducing the authors to other veterans that then in tern also became part of the process. It was vital to ReEntry's authors that the voices in this play be authentic. It was also essential that the actors who portray these men and women have a deep and profound understanding of what it means to be a Marine, and so former USMC drill instructor Joe Harrell was employed to take the actors through a rigorous training program, akin to basic training. Sanchez went on to cast Harrell in the production, who's performance as the commanding officer in ReEntry garnered much acclaim.

Cast includes: Joseph Harrell (United States Marine Corps from 1999-2008, Time Remembered and The Servant of Two Masters), Sameerah Luqmaan-Harris (Emperor Jones, Fefu and Her Friends, Come Back To Me), Bobby Moreno (Cleansed Offending the Audience, Orestes in Orestes 2.0), PJ Sosko (Film: The Reunion, NY The Jazz Age, Leap), Sheila Tapia (Elliot, A Soldiers Fugue).Creative team includes: Marion Williams (Scenic and Costume Designer), Thom Weaver (Lighting Designer), Zach Williamson (Sound Designer), Alex Koch (Video Designer).

Last season Urban Stages celebrated its 25th Anniversary season by presenting Kleban Award winner Joe Iconis' musical ReWrite which the NY Times exclaimed "Joe Iconis is as loopy as his reputation suggests," "Most unique and innovative show" Talk Entertainment; "ReWrite is funny and very good. Iconis' lyrics are smart, funny, and referential. I have to admit I have never seen a musical like this." nytheatre.com; "Rewrite, is a great show. "Stage and Cinema; "ReWrite is a bitchin' triptych of one-act pop/rock musicals" NY Press.

Urban Stages also presented its 25th Anniversary Retrospective Reading Series that offered highlights of the last 25 years of Urban Stages' fostering new plays and playwrights. During that time Urban Stages has presented critically acclaimed productions that include a Pulitzer Prize finalist, Outer-Critics Circle Award, two Drama Desk nominations, an Obie nomination, eight Audelco nominations and several commercial moves.

Performance Schedule: Wednesday - Saturday at 8PM; Saturday - Sunday at 2PM
(Added shows: Monday, February 8 at 7PM)

Tickets are $40 ($25 during preview through March 8, 2010)
Tickets available at www.SmartTix.com or call 212.868.4444
Tickets on Sale December 21, 2009

Student Rush: $10 with valid ID 10 minutes before curtain (based on availability)
Running time: 90 Minutes, no intermission

For more information about Urban Stages please visit www.urbanstages.org

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