Crosshatch Theatre Company Presents Einstein and Mileva 8/18-9/3

Crosshatch Theatre Company (formerly known as The Collective Theatre Company), under the leadership of Stephen F. Agosto, Geoffrey Bryant and Emma Canalese, co-artistic directors, presents the world premiere of Einstein and Mileva, a new play by Caitlin Shannon. Directed by Emma Canalese, Einstein and Mileva will have performances from August 18 through September 3, at the Clurman Theatre at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street). The press opening is Friday, August 19 at 8pm.

The production features Gregory Lay as Albert Einstein, Sarah Manton as Mileva Maric, Sid Solomon as Conrad Habicht, and Matthew Baldiga as Maurice Solovine.

Einstein and Mileva tells the story of acclaimed physicist, Albert Einstein, and his first wife, scientist Mileva Maric; the early struggles of his career, the battles within, and a family secret covered for nearly 40 years that ultimately tore them apart. Following Einstein through his years with The Olympia Academy, playwright Caitlin Shannon shares the story of a man lost in his own genius and the wife that gave up everything to see him succeed.

This production marks the playwright's US debut where Einstein and Mileva was selected as a semi-finalist in this year's O'Neill Playwriting Conference.

The design team includes Geology Design Studios (sets and lights), and Kate Whitton (costumes). Jarrod Bates is assistant director. Nick Tochelli is production stage manager.

Performance times for Einstein and Mileva are Tuesday at 7pm, Wednesday through Saturday 8pm, Saturday matinees 2pm. Tickets are $19.25 ($18.00 ticket, $1.25 Theatre Row Restoration Fee). Call Teleharge at 212-239-6200 or www.telecharge.com. There will be a free talk-back with the cast, playwright and director on Tuesday, August 23 following the 7pm performance.

Gregory Lay (Einstein) is a graduate of The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater in New York City. His theater credits include Stephen Belber's Tape, Beth Henley's Crimes of the Heart, and Michael Niederman's To Barcelona. Television credits include NBC's Mercy, CBS's As The World Turns, as well as the upcoming CBS show Person of Interest starring Jim Caviezel and Taraji Henson. He most recently appeared opposite Matt Damon and Michael Kelly in the feature film The Adjustment Bureau, directed by George Nolfi.

Sarah Manton (Mileva) - Sarah was born in Leicester, England and trained at Guildford School of Acting in London. Her theatre work includes the world premiere of The Coast of Utopia (National Theatre, London, dir. Trevor Nunn), Baby in Dirty Dancing (West End), South Pacific (National Theatre, dir. Trevor Nunn), The Champion of Paribanou (dir. Alan Ayckbourn), Major Barbara, The Madras House (off-West End), John Tillinger's Time of My Life (Public Theatre, Pittsburgh) and numerous projects at The National Theatre Studio. National Tours: Romeo and Juliet (Juliet), Look Back in Anger (Alison Porter). TV: Doctors (BBC), Casualty (BBC).

Sid Solomon (Conrad) New York: Romeo and Juliet, The Comedy of Errors (The Acting Company), David Lindsay-Abaire's Snow Angel (LCT Directors Lab), Much Ado About Nothing (Boomerang Theatre Company). Regional: Guthrie Theater, Florida Stage, Georgia Shakespeare, Minneapolis' Children's Theatre Company, among others. TV: Law & Order. Awards: Broadway League Rising Star Award, 2002. Training: B.F.A., University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater Actor Training Program; High School of Performing Arts, New York. www.SidSolomon.com

Matthew Baldiga (Maurice) is a graduate of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While studying he received the David Hammond Award for Excellence in Dramatic Art and was voted one of the Best Supporting Performances in the Triangle area in 2008 for Dead Man Walking. He is also an alumnus of the Acting Apprentice Program at The Actor's Theatre of Louisville. Matthew has worked regionally at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Actor's Theatre of Louisville, PlayMakers Rep and the Chicago Fringe and internationally at the Prague International Fringe Festival. This summer Matthew has been seen in two prior New York City Productions, This Lady's Not For Burning with Parenthesis and The Austerity of Hope at The Fresh Fruit Festival.

Emma Canalese (Director) Emma has directed and choreographed such shows as America (DUTF '09, Audience Award Winner), The Tempest: Remixed (Teatro Heckscher at El Museo del Barrio, NY), Paramnesia (One Extra Dance, Australia), and Sense of Purpose on Sundays (The University of New South Wales). She was Assistant Choreographer on Always Greener (Channel 7 Television, Australia) and for The Real Theater Company's production of Hair. Emma is a graduate of The Neighborhood Playhouse and Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (Advanced Diploma of Dance). www.emmacanalese.com

Caitlin Shannon (Playwright) wrote her first screenplay, Fallowfield, while at Manchester University. She went on to co-write 10 Downing St with Travis Aaron (a series bible for U.S television, packaged by ICM) For Ross Media she co-wrote the screenplay Soldier Boy, based on the novel Soldatenkind and developed the screenplay The Wizard of Gordonstoun . Most recently she wrote the sitcom pilot The Millers of Noland House. Einstein and Mileva is her first play.

About Crosshatch Theatre Company:
Crosshatch Theatre Company is dedicated to establishing a working environment where creative risk is encouraged and truthful storytelling is paramount. Through artistic development, education, and performance, it is the goal of CTC to provide a forum for all artistic disciplines to collaborate and interact within a theatrical context.
For more info www.crosshatchtheatre.com

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