'Hospital 2008' 9th Annual Summer Serial Begins June 5

After a one year hiatus, Axis Company will present the 9th installment of its annual HOSPITAL serial beginning June 5th. Conceived, written and produced by Axis, HOSPITAL 2008 is directed by Randy Sharp. Axis Company's episodic play HOSPITAL examines the interior life of a man in a terminal coma. Entering this state in a different way every year, the audience travels with him as he lives out his last few days roaming the vast,  dark interiors of his own brain.  Although HOSPITAL is a serial play, each evening can be viewed separately as a self-contained, short play.

New York runs on water. From the steam system that heats and electrifies the five boroughs, to the water that flows from millions of taps, without water there is no city.  Currently, only two tunnels provide all this water; Tunnel #1 was completed in 1917 and even the newest sections of Tunnel #2 are at least 73 years old. Begun in 1970, Water Tunnel #3's projected completion date is in 2020. As far underground as the Chrysler Building is tall, teams of "sandhogs" risk their lives digging the path for this tunnel.  Every day, far down
beneath the feet of all New Yorkers, below the subway and the sewer, the sandhogs live their days in a dangerous, subterranean universe.

HOSPITAL 2008 takes place in the aftermath of a catastrophic collapse of part of this tunnel.  Three men are trapped beneath the city
streets, in a part of the system that is unrecognizable to them.  As they attempt to find their individual ways back to the surface, it becomes clear that something beyond normal comprehension may have occurred deep beneath the capitol of the world.

The production stars Paul Marc Barnes, Brian Barnhart, Regina Betancourt, David Crabb, George Demas, Joe Fuer, Britt Genelin, Laurie
Kilmartin, Lynn Mancinelli, Marc Palmieri, Edgar Oliver, Tom Pennacchini, Jim Sterling, Ian Tooley with original songs by Randy Sharp,  lighting design by David Zeffren; asstistant lighting design by Amy Harper; sound design & song production by Steve Fontaine;
costumes by Matthew Simonelli, and cinematography by Ben Wolf.

Through the careful utilization of various media, Axis Company has produced an eclectic series of original and published plays with
highly advanced, State of the art technological components that enhance the internal meaning of the material. Past productions include
Buchner's Woyzeck, Beckett's Play, Benjamin Baker's 1848 sensation A Glance at New York and the U.S. premiere of Sarah Kane's Crave, starring Deborah Harry, in addition to numerous original works.

HOSPITAL runs June 5- July 19, Thursday - Saturday at 8:00pm. Axis Theatre is located at One Sheridan Square (just off 7th Avenue,
accessible from the 1/9 train at Sheridan Square). Tickets are $12 for Adults and $6 for Seniors/Students, available at 212-352-3101 or
www.AxisCompany.org.

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