Horse Trade Presents StrangeDog Theatre's BOOTSTRAPS, 6/13-22

Horse Trade Theater Group and StrangeDog Theatre will present the New York Premiere of BOOTSTRAPS by Ben Clawson, June 13-22 at UNDER St. Marks (94 St. Marks Place). The production will be directed by Artem Yatsuov with Assistant Director Amanda Mae Cohen and will feature Scott Cagney, Rob Hille, Paul Romano, and Sebastian Smeureanu. The creative team will include Lighting Design by Rebecca Bickley, Costume Design by Jason Caballero, Set Design by Peter Martino, and Sound Design by Artem Yatsunov. The production will be Stage Managed by Keila Fontánez-La Salle.

It's midnight in the forlorn warehouses of the Branch Hill Industrial Supply Company. A band of low-rung employees have been called in late on special assignment, coincidentally on the same night the promotion to the mythic position of Corporate Representative might finally be available...but only for tonight. This odd little comedy investigates if there's anything they won't compromise, sacrifice or betray to get ahead, and where the hell "ahead" even is.

The production will run June 13-22 at UNDER St. Marks (94 St. Marks Place between 1st Avenue and Avenue A); Thursday through Saturday at 7pm. Tickets ($18, including a free beer) are available online at www.horseTRADE.info or by calling Smarttix at 212-868-4444.

"It's like a live version of Archer, Family Guy, and Tosh.0 wrapped in a Taco Bell Dorrito Taco." Cultural Capitol (The Virilogy)

"This show has fantastic energy, and I was thoroughly engaged the whole time. Clawson's writing captures the balance between the easy banter of a group of old friends and the awkwardness of their attempts to discuss their feelings." The Huffington Post (The Virilogy)

"Starting a new theater company certainly isn't an easy proposition, so how is StrangeDog Theatre managing to make it look effortless?" The NJ Star-Ledger

BEN CLAWSON (Playwright) received his B.F.A. in Theater from Montclair State University. He is the author of numerous full-length plays, short comedies, and evenings of thematically connected one acts. His plays have had professional productions, readings, and workshops throughout New York, New Jersey, Washington D.C. and New Orleans. He has written commissioned works for the Luna Stage Company, The Montclair State University School of the Arts, and the Contagious Drama Theatre Workshop. He has been an evening winner and finalist in the Samuel French Short Play festival, national finalist for the American College Theater Festival's John Cauble One-Act Award, finalist for the Princess Grace Award in playwriting, and recipient of the Kennedy Center's David Mark Cohen award. He is a member of the Dramatist Guild, and a founder of the StrangeDog Theatre Company, with whom he has produced many of his plays.

ARTEM YATSUNOV (Director) received his B.F.A. in Theater from Montclair State University, NJ in May of 2008. He is Artistic Director and a co-founder of the StrangeDog Theatre Company. Favorites projects: Ben Clawson's Omnivores, The Virilogy, Claire Went to France, The StrangeDog Eat Dog and Pony Show, and The St.Valentine's Day Massacre; Noah Hidle's Kitty Kitty Kitty; Shakespeare's Richard III. He heads StrangeDog Theatre's initiative to collaborate with and support the local live music scene and has showcased such acts as the unofficial StrangeDog House Band The MICKS, Squeeze Rock, Amanda Duncan, Black Water, Joanna Burns, and The One&Nines - just to name a few.

STRANGEDOG THEATRE COMANY is a nomadic troupe intent on creating new plays for both avid theatre-lovers and people who mistakenly think they don't like plays.

HORSE TRADE THEATER GROUP is a self-sustaining theater development group; with a focus on new work that has produced a massive quantity of stimulating downtown theater. Horse Trade's Resident Artist Program offers a home to a select group of Independent theater artists, pooling together a great deal of talent and energy. It is also the home of FRIGID New York - the first and only festival of its kind in New York City. In 2011 Horse Trade received the New York Innovative Theatre Ellen Stewart Stewardship Award for demonstrating a significant contribution to the Off-Off-Broadway community through service, support and leadership.

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