YOUNGER's Nico Tortorella to Lead World Premiere of Jordan Jaffe's CRUDE Off-Broadway

Black Lab Theatre announced today that Crude, a new dark comedy by Jordan Jaffe, will play a strictly limited world premiere engagement at Theater 511 at Ars Nova (511 West 54th Street) for an Ars Nova Fling, as part of Black Lab Theatre's new play development program, "The Pipeline."

Directed by Kel Haney, Crude will star Theater World Award winner Desmin Borges (The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity), ELiza Huberth (A Doll's House, directed by Sam Gold at Williamstown), Jose Joaquin Perez (My Mañana Comes at The Playwrights Realm), and Nico Tortorella of TV Land's hit series "Younger."

*The goal of Black Lab Theatre is to create and develop original plays that cover uncharted territory through theatrical experiences, and engage its audiences in Houston and New York to think critically about the world around them. "The Pipeline" is designed to present uniquely developed new works to both New York and Houston via their development process of "flowing" world premieres - a two-city world premiere of a play that integrates a mix of artists from both communities where the play is running - giving a single play two fully realized productions, during which the playwright can further develop the work.

Crude will begin previews on Tuesday, April 26, 2016, with opening night set for Wednesday, May 4, 2016.

When a catastrophic environmental accident threatens to derail Kurtz Petroleum, it's up to documentarian turned big oil public relations guru Jaime Kurtz (Nico Tortorella) with the help of his commercial making bro-buddy Aaron (Desmin Borges) and Aaron's drug dealer Manny (Jose Joaquin Perez) to come up with the perfect pitch to save the company, his relationship with his environmentally conscious wife Brittany (ELiza Huberth), and his stolen dog. Packed with drugs, sex, and spin doctoring, Crude is a dark comedy about the price you pay for selling your soul in the new millennium.

Crude will feature scenic design by Caite Hevner Kemp (Tail! Spin!), costume design by Sydney Maresca (Hand to God), lighting design by Alex Jainchill, and sound design by Elisheba Ittoop.

Crude will play Monday through Saturday's at 8:00pm. The production will also hold a special "pay-what-you-can" preview performance on Monday, May 2 at 8:00pm. Tickets for Crude will be $35 each and can be purchased by visiting www.CrudeThePlay.com or by calling (866) 811-4111.

Nico Tortorella (Jaime Kurtz ) currently stars as a lead in Darren Star's comedy series "Younger." Previously he was a series regular opposite Kevin Bacon and James Purefoy on Fox's hugely successful series "The Following." Nico's recent feature films include his starring role in Stephen Sommers' "Odd Thomas" opposite Anton Yelchin, Willem Dafoe and Tim Robbins. Joel Schumacher was the first to identify Nico's natural and raw talent casting him in two films over the past several years... "Twelve" and "Trespass." Nico also shot the HBO/Mike White pilot "Mamma Dallas" and wrapped the lead role of "Carson" in the New York independent "fictional documentary" film Hunter & Game. A long time theater fan, Nico could most recently be found on stage tap dancing opposite "Younger" co-star Sutton Foster for four of her tour dates with The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.

Desmin Borges (Aaron)is best know for playing "Edgar" on FXX's "You're The Worst." He first came to prominence with his award-winning, breakout performance of "Mace" in the Pulitzer Prize nominated The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Diety at the Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago. This quickly led to critically acclaimed runs of the show at the Second Stage in New York and the Geffen in Los Angeles. Desmin parlayed his stage success into the film and television world, where he appeared opposite Jim Carrey in Mr. Popper's Penguins and Ben Stiller in Tower Heist. Other films include Compliance (Sundance,) Almost Christmas (Tribeca), The Mend (SXSW) and the upcoming Carrie Pilby with Nathan Lane and Bel Powley. On television, Desmin recently appeared in the HBO pilot "Divorce" with Sarah Jessica Parker, as well as "The Mysteries of Laura." Other TV roles include "Castle," "The Good Wife," "Law & Order: SVU," and a series role on "Next Caller". Desmin lives in New York.

Kel Haney (Director). Recent directing credits include: Haney/Comfort's The Elephant In Every Room I Enter (La MaMa, Mabou Mines), Vickie Ramirez's Glenburn 12WP (59E59), Jonathan Caren's The Recommendation (The Flea), Neil LaBute's The Way We Get By (American Theatre Group). She has also directed and developed new work at Ars Nova, Atlantic Theater Company, Directors Company, Cherry Lane, Keen Company, LAByrinth Theater Company, The Lark, Ma-Yi, Naked Angels, New Dramatists, New Georges, NY Fringe Festival, Partial Comfort Productions, The Playwrights Realm, Rattlestick, Rising Phoenix Rep, Studio 42, Vampire Cowboys, Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater, Westport Country Playhouse, Williamstown & the 52nd Street Project. She has collaborated with countless playwrights and composers, including: Robert Askins, Clare Barron, Rachel Bonds, Nikole Beckwith, Bekah Brunstetter, Carla Ching, Joshua Conkel, Jessica Dickey, Matthew Lee Erlbach, Kyle Jarrow, Nick Jones, Laura Marks, Rehana Mirza, Jon Kern, Max Posner, Sharyn Rothstein, Jen Silverman, and Anna Ziegler.

Manhattan Theatre Club Directing Fellow (including Assistant Director Wit Broadway), Lincoln Center Directors Lab, Mabou Mines Residency, Old Vic/New Voices Exchange Program and a member of Ensemble Studio Theatre. I Am Them, a series of short films directed by Ms. Haney, releases later this year. www.kelhaney.com

Jordan Jaffe (Author) is a playwright, director and the Artistic Director of Black Lab Theatre. Black Lab Theatre is currently developing Jordan's "Energy Series," a trilogy of plays that each highlight a particular energy source: Crude (Oil), Fracked (Natural Gas), and Beth Kills Birds (Wind). Under his leadership since the company's inception in 2011, Black Lab has staged the Houston premieres of the work of such writers as David Henry Hwang, Joshua Harmon, Paul Downs Colaizzo, Beau Willimon, Peter Sinn Nachrieb, Kim Rosenstock, Amy Herzog, Leslye Headland, Jeff Talbott, and Theresa Rebeck. Notable productions in his tenure include Chinglish by David Henry Hwang (produced in collaboration with Asia Society Texas Center), Bad Jews by Joshua Harmon (produced with Stages Repertory Theatre and the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center of Houston), Tigers Be Still by Kim Rosenstock (Houston Press Award 2014-15 nominee for Best Play/Production). In 2015 Jordan established Black Lab Theatre's new play development program The Pipeline, which develops new work via readings, workshops, and flowing world premieres between Houston and New York. Jordan is a proud graduate of Rice University with a BA in Visual and Dramatic Arts, and has also trained at the Atlantic Acting School in New York. In 2013 Jordan was named to the Houston Press' Top 100 Creatives list of "movers and shakers" in the arts.

Photo by Jennifer Broski

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