Jon Steinhagen's BLIZZARD '67 Set for FringeNYC Today

By: BWW News Desk Aug. 13, 2013

Playlab NYC presents Blizzard '67 as part of the 17th annual New York International Fringe Festival - FringeNYC. Jon Steinhagen's Blizzard '67 will be opening today, August 13th at 2:00 p.m. at The Robert Moss Theater; 440 Lafayette Street.

The Chicago Blizzard of 1967 struck on January 26, 1967 with a record-setting 23 inches of snow falling before the storm finally ended the next morning. The snow storm stranded tens of thousands of people and left an estimated 50,000 automobiles abandoned on the city streets and expressways.

Blizzard '67 tells the story of four Chicago businessmen who share a carpool every day to and from work, not friends, but competitive coworkers at a large corporation. Trying to drive home during the horrific blizzard of 1967, they find themselves lost in the snow. When they happen upon a stranded car, they have to decide should they assist a stranger or protect themselves?

The playwright says, "Nothing else tests our humanity towards others or reveals our inhumanity quite like our response to natural disasters; likewise, when we do the right things for the wrong reasons (and vice versa), can we live with our choices?"

Jon Steinhagen is known to Chicago theater goers as an actor, playwright, composer, and pianist. His impact on Chicago's local theatre scene is immense whether he's acting, music directing, or writing. He has received four Jeff Awards, five Jeff Nominations, and six After Dark Awards for musical direction, writing or acting. He was a finalist for the first Noel Coward Award (2010) and winner of the Julie Harris Playwriting Award in 2009 for his comedy The Analytical Engine. He received a producer-author initiative grant from NAMT in 2005 and received an After Dark Award for Best New Work for his musical The Teapot Scandals.

The cast of Blizzard '67 includes: William Franke (Henkin) who was seen in last year's FringeNYC presentation of The Abduction of Becky Morris; Graham Halstead (Emery) who appeared in West Lethargy at FringeNYC in 2010; John Pieza (Lanfield) who is returning to acting after having directed Poe-Dunk - A Matchbox Entertainment at 2011's FringeNYC; and Andrew David Rabensteine (Bell) making his New York International Fringe Festival debut.

The Blizzard '67 staff includes: Jennifer Linn Wilcox (Lighting Designer), Trevor Dallier (Sound Designer), and Bernadette Schoenborn will serve as Stage Manager.

Jennifer Linn Wilcox and Kevin P. Hale founded Playlab NYC in 2008. We concoct, unleash and support enjoyably absurd and absurdly enjoyable amusements that engage artists and audiences in the spirit of play. We have presented work at festivals including the Midtown International Theater Festival, FRIGID New York, FringeNYC, Figment New York, Great Small Works Toy Theater Festival, and The Players Theatre's short Play and Musical Festival. Past work with FringeNYC include: Poe-Dunk - A Matchbox Entertainment, The Altoona Dada Society Presents: the Velvet Gentleman, and Professor Ralph's Loss of Breath. We are a member of Fractured Atlas. At Playlab NYC we are taking fun way too seriously. For more information visit www.playlabnyc.org.

Blizzard '67 will be appearing at FringeNYC Venue #16: The Robert Moss Theater at 440 Studios on: Tuesday 8/13 at 2, Thursday 8/15 @ 8:30, Saturday 8/17 @ 2:30, Tuesday 8/20 @ 8:45, and Saturday 8/24 at 4:15.

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