FORBIDDEN At The 13th Street Rep Takes A Chapter From Playwright's Life

Rick Charles Mueller, like most people, makes mistakes. But in his case, he learns from them, and then writes. He writes plays, he fictionalizes some of his experiences, embellishes, creates new scenarios, maybe new characters, and then puts it out there so that his experience can entertain...but also teach a life lesson. It's nothing new to the writer, actor, director, and now producer of his own new play, Forbidden, curently playing for a limited engagement at The 13th Street Repertory Theatre in Greenwich Village.

For Mueller, being open about his experiences, and sharing his life lessons, is simply his way. As an activist and president of his own non-profit, Pride Before Prejudice, he has presented his story and life experiences to thousands of students for over 10 years at dozens of schools throughout the city. As a gay man with HIV, a former homeless youth, and someone who has a worldy experience travelling the globe as a writer, his stories have depth and deal with a large list of social issues. As a playwright, his work reflects a similar approach.

The story, written, produced, and featuring Mr. Mueller centers around a playwright/actor who is working on a play for The Public Theater and becomes obsessed with the leading man in his play. A relatively lonely, older gay man who spends his days with his best friend, Antonia (he calls her "wifey"), he is torn between her bouts of panic, despair, and suicidal tendencies, and his lust and eventual love for the younger man.

For Charles, this attraction comes with more than a few problems. The age difference has him in a state of conflict and confusion, but at an even deeper level, the issues of work-related romance, using his influence and experience to seduce his lead actor with promises of career advancement is at the core of current topics related to the entertainment business for some time now. What Mr. Mueller has done is taken an experience from his own life and put it to the stage in this new drama which won accolades at the Midtown International Theatre Festival in 2017. This marks the first full production of the play after numerous rewrites and readings. Pride Not Prejudice is producing.

Directed by Alexander Wei Xin, the play features Rew Starr (as Antonia), Rick Charles Mueller, and Darius A. Journigan.

Performances for this limited run are August 8th - 17th, 2018

August 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 at 7:30pm
August 11 at 1:30pm and 8:00pm and August 12 at 4:00pm

Tickets $20 online at: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3466875

Also available through TDF and Goldstar - seating is limited. CASH tickets also sold as available at the Box Office.Doors open 30 minutes prior.