MANHATTAN TRANSFER Opens at Shell Theatre, 7/17

A foreign war, burgeoning immigration, market ups and downs, exhaustion from the last decade and fear mixed with hope as technology changes rapidly. It's just another typical day in today's society. But turn back the clocks 100 years and theatergoers will soon discover that life in the early 20th century was very similar, when they see MANHATTAN TRANSFER.

Adapted from John Dos Passos's classic novel of the same name, 'Manhattan Transfer,' by playwright Martin M. Zuckerman, is a portrait of a much younger New York City and told through the interconnected stories of exemplary Manhattanites.

"When I first read Dos Passos's novel ten years ago, I thought it had the making of a fascinating play", says Zuckerman, who added, "The challenge was to choose among the dozens of plot lines and the hundred fifty or so characters to select the representative." From that process, Zuckerman wrote the play which focuses on the lives of three people, all in search of something different but connected by the tragic hero of the story and the "center of everything," Manhattan. "George" (Brad Coolidge) is an ambitious lawyer who seeks love, "Ellen" (Casandera M.J. Lollar) is a tenacious young actress who seeks fame and "Jimmy" (Nick Fesette) is an idealistic reporter who seeks to elevate The Common man through his writing. The cast also includes a variety of other characters that make the journey more colorful: Philipp Christopher (Congo), Rick Dettwyler (Jeff Merivale), Kelley Dorney (Nellie), Anthony J. Gallo (Detective/Mike Cardinale), Jenn Goodson (Nevada), Rachel Halper (Cassie), Mark A. Keeton (Jojo), Briana Paken (Ruth), John L Payne (Gus) and Adam Shorsten.

For director Kathleen Swan taking on such a heartfelt story meant connecting with each character. She says she is thrilled to be part of what she calls "an American masterpiece." "It is astonishingly modern and perfectly captures what one character calls ‘this epileptic city,'" says Swan. Under Swan's direction is a talented production team that includes Stanley L. Ralph III (Stage Manager), Jackie McCarthy (Scenic Designer), Stephen Sakowski (Lighting Designer), A. Christina Giannini (Costume Designer), Erica Evans (Assistant Costume Designer), Rocco D'Santi (Projection Designer), Josh Millican (Sound Designer) and Pat Lawrence (Production Assistant).

Manhattan Transfer opens in previews Thursday, July 8th at 7PM. Other preview performances: Friday & Saturday, July 9th and 10th at 8PM; Monday - Wednesday, July 12th -14th at 7PM. The show opens Saturday, July 17th at 8PM. Other dates: Sunday, July 18th at 2PM; Wednesday & Thursday, July 21st & 22nd at 7PM; Saturday, July 24th at 8PM; Sunday, July 25th at 2PM; Monday & Tuesday, July 26th and 27th at 7PM; Saturday, July 31st at 8PM & Sunday, August 1st at 2PM. All performances are at The Shell Theater, 300 W 43rd St., 4th floor (between 8th & 9th Ave). Tickets are $18 and available by calling 212-352-3101 or online through theatremania.com or the Turtle Shell Theater website at turtleshellproductions.com.