Flea Theater's DAWN Begins Previews 11/9

The Flea Theater presents the U.S. premiere of DAWN by Thomas Bradshaw, beginning previews November 9th.  The production will be directed by Flea Artistic Director, Jim Simpson and feature actors Gerry Bammon, (Obie Award winner and Drama Desk Award nominee for Nixon's Nixon), Laura Esterman (Drama Desk Award winner for Marvin's Room), Irene Walsh, Drew Hildebrand, Kate Benson, and Jenny Seastone Stern. The design team includes Claudia Brown (costumes), Jeanette Yew (lights) and Brandon Wolcott (sound). Opening night is slated for Saturday, November 15.

DAWN revolves around Hampton, an abusive alcoholic who has completely alienated his wife and children. Can he stop drinking and make up for the past, even amidst some very dark revelations of incest and pedophilia? DAWN is one father's story of redemption and reconciliation -- with a twist.
 
Flea Artistic Director, Jim Simpson says, "Thomas Bradshaw is interested in presenting taboo subjects onstage, and DAWN is not an exception. Vice battles the oh-so American need for redemption in this family drama set in Florham Park, New Jersey. We are pleased to be presenting the work of this remarkable playwright whose work is so pleasantly unpleasant."

According to the New York Times, playwright Thomas Bradshaws's work is "likely to leave you speechless."  A professor of playwriting at Brooklyn College, Bradshaw has been named one of the top 10 playwrights to watch by Time Out New York and Best Provocative Playwright in 2007 by The Village Voice.  He is the author of Southern Promises which premiered at P. S. 122 in September. Other work includes Purity, Strom Thurmond Is Not A Racist and Cleansed, all published by Samuel French, Inc. Dawn received a workshop at Dartmouth College in August and was presented in German at Theater Bielefeld in Germany in October.  He is currently working on an adaptation of The Book Of Job which has been commissioned by Soho Rep where he is a 2008-2009 Streslin Fellow.

Jim Simpson is the Founder and Artistic Director of The Flea Theater (2004 Drama Desk cited for Downtown Adventurous Theater). Two-time OBIE-award winner, 2002 National Board of Review Excellence in Filmmaking, and cited for artistic leadership in Downtown New York by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. Jim has directed over 70 works for the theater and has also directed for film and television. Venues include nine seasons at the Williamstown Theater Festival, Alley Theater, Hartford Stage, Yale Rep, Actor's Theater of Louisville, Eisenhower Theater at the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Playwrights Horizons, EST, CSC, MCC, the London International Theater Festival and the Melbourne Fringe Festival. Most recently, Jim directed A. R. Gurney's Crazy Mary at Playwrights Horizons, Will Eno's Oh, The Humanity…, Peter Handke's Offending The Audience and the current revival of Cato at The Flea.

The Flea Theater, under Artistic Director Jim Simpson and Producing Director Carol Ostrow, is one of New York's leading off-off-Broadway companies. Winner of a Special Drama Desk Award for outstanding achievement, Obie Awards and an Otto for political theater, The Flea has presented over 80 plays and numerous dance and live music performances since its inception in 1996. Past productions include Anne Nelson's The Guys, A.R. Gurney's O Jerusalem, Screenplay, Mrs. Farnsworth and Post Mortem, Roger Rosenblatt's Ashley Montana Goes Ashore..., Adam Rapp's Bingo with the Indians and Will Eno's Oh, The Humanity and other exclamations.

DAWN runs November 9 - December 6, exact performance schedule varies. The Flea is located at 41 White Street between Church and Broadway, three blocks south of Canal, close to the 1, N, R, Q, W, 6, A, C and E subway lines. Tickets are $18 and are available by calling (212) 352-3101 or online at www.theflea.org

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