FringeNYC announces DOG SEES GOD Benefit Casting

The New York International Fringe Festival (FringeNYC), the largest multi-arts festival in North America, celebrates its 15th anniversary with THE FringeBENEFITS SERIES. The final presentation in this 15-week series which began in May is Bert V. Royal's DOG SEES GOD on August 11 at The Laurie Beechman Theatre.

In DOG SEEES GOD, a group of kids very much like the Peanuts gang discovers the difficulty of finally growing up. This jet black comedy is by Bert V. Royal V. (author of the hit film Easy A).

This staged reading will be directed by LEZLIE WADE (director of the original Toronto production) starring Kelli Garner (Original Off-Broadway Cast -- and star of ABC's new fall TV drama Pan Am opposite Christina Ricci & Will Chase) Jake Epstein (Original Toronto Cast), Karen DiConcetto (Original Fringe and Off-Broadway Cast -- and Snookie in the 2011 FringeNYC production of Jersey Shoresical: A Frickin' Rock Opera), Colby Chambers (Original Off-Broadway Cast), PAULA BRANCATI (Original Toronto Cast), Brian Patrick Murphy (Original Off-Broadway Cast), LINDSEY CLARK (Original Toronto Cast), CLAY BLACK (Original FringeNYC Cast) and Sorrel Tomlinson (Producer of all New York Presentations, will read the stage directions).

FringeNYC is a production of The Present Company, under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Elena K. Holy. In 1997, New York City became the seventh US city to host a fringe festival, joining Seattle, Chicago, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Houston, Orlando and San Francisco. In its first 14 years FringeNYC has presented over 2400 performing groups from around the world. The festival has been the launching pad for numerous Off-Broadway and Broadway transfers, long-running downtown hits, and regional Theater Productions. With attendance topping 75,000 people, FringeNYC is New York City's fifth largest cultural event (just behind New York International Auto Show, Tribeca Film Festival, New York City Marathon, and New York Comic Con). The 2011 Festival runs August 12 - 28, offering programming by 200 of the world's best emerging theatre troupes and dance companies in 20 venues in Lower Manhattan. For more information visit www.FringeNYC.org.

THE FringeBENEFITS SERIES: DOG SEES GOD runs Thursday August 11 at 7pm The Laurie Beechman Theater is located inside West Bank Cafe at 407 West 42nd Street -- at Ninth Avenue, accessible from the A,C,E,N,R,V,F,1,2,3 trains at 42nd Street). Tickets are $30, plus a $15 food/drink minimum. To purchase tickets call 212-352-3101 or visit www.SpinCycleNYC.com.