David Grieg's CREDITORS Opens Tonight With Phoenix Theatre Ensemble

Phoenix Theatre Ensemble (PTE) announces that it will be presenting August Strindberg's searing domestic drama Creditors in the celebrated translation by Scottish playwright David Grieg (Donmar Warehouse 2008; BAM 2010) for 6 performances only tonight Dec 3 @ 8:00 pm; Thursday Dec 4 @ 8:00; Friday, Dec 5 @ 8:00 pm; Saturday Dec 6 @ 3:00 pm and 8:00 pm and Sunday Dec 7 @ 3:00 pm at the Wild Project at 195 East 3rd Street (between Avenues A and B).

Set at a seaside resort and written by Strindberg during an era when electricity, Freud, Darwinism, and hypnosis were part of turn-of-the-century "enlightenment," Gustav (Craig Smith) befriends an impressionable highly successful young artist, Adolph (Josh Tyson). Under Gustav's relentless questioning and mephitic suggestions, Adolph's fears of infidelity by his novelist wife Tekla (Elise Stone) come ragingly to the forefront. It ultimately becomes clear that the manipulative Gustav is scheming a psychological deadly plot in this fatal sexual--part carnival funhouse--triangle.

Obie Award Winner and Drama Desk Nominee Kevin Confoy (Dogg's Hamlet, Cahoot's Macbeth, The Painting) directs with Craig Smith as Gustav, Josh Tyson as Adolph, Elise Stone as Tekla, and Sergio Fuenzalida as the Bartender. Sets, lights and costumes are designed by 2014 NYIT Nominees Tsubasa Kamei and Jennifer Stimple-Kamei. Scottish playwright David Grieg's ("chilling but surprisingly comedic" LA Times) translation/adaptation was highly praised in the 2008 Donmar Playhouse and 2010 New York BAM productions.

Tickets are $25, discount 4-admission passes are available, TDF Vouchers are welcome, Group discounts available. To order tickets call 212-352-3101 or visit PhoenixTheatreEnsemble.org.

Phoenix Theatre Ensemble: PTE was founded in 2004 by five theatre artists who were all one time resident ensemble members of the prestigious Cocteau Repertory under the guidance of Artistic Director/auteur Eve Adamson. The intent of Phoenix was to maintain the Adamson/Cocteau principles of ensemble artists presenting classical text-based theatre, but to expand to incorporate new scripts, new adaptations, and ensemble-created works.

A constituent of Network of Ensemble Theatres and ART/NY, Phoenix has since mounted 41 productions, 46 staged and developmental readings, 2 international theatre festivals, 2 late night series, numerous open rehearsal seminars, provided an artistic home to 80-100 artists each season, created intergenerational programs for at risk teens and seniors (the subject of an award winning documentary), 8 years of curriculum based Arts-in-Ed programs serving thousands of NYC public students.

PTE has experienced significant growth in the last two seasons with the 2013-14 season providing increased programming resulting in 50% growth in pass holders/subscribers, and over 70% increase in box office revenue over the previous year. The 2013-14 unusual staging of Shaw's Don Juan in Hell is nominated for 5 NYIT awards and was the winner of Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role (Jason O'Connell) and Outstanding Revival.

2014-2015 season will include new web-based initiatives, 4 mainstage productions (The Man With a Flower in His Mouth by Pirandello, Creditors by Strindberg, Medea by Euripides and American Moor by Keith Hamilton Cobb), Late Night Series, interactive children's programming, reading series, Anatomy of Scene seminars, and the 3rd Annual First Stories Festival.