New Ohio Theatre Premieres TWO-MAN KIDNAPPING RULE

The New Ohio Theatre will present Joseph Gallo's TWO-MAN KIDNAPPING RULE, a bittersweet look at a contemporary male friendship in decline. Directed by Robin A. Paterson, previews begin October 29 with opening slated for November 5.

TWO-MAN KIDNAPPING RULE depicts one comical evening in the lives of three, 20-something-year-old suburban friends who find themselves at a crossroads. Jack, a former college football star, refuses to put away the memory of his ex-girlfriend, while Vincent, wants nothing more than to keep his friends in one place, and insists on helping his buddy by taking him out on the town. But by the time they pick up Seth, a conflicted straight arrow with a confession to make, old friends are suddenly squaring off over what male bonding truly means. Will Jack let go of the memories his ex-girlfriend left behind? Or is this the beginning of a whole new set of problems?

The production will also mark the launch of the New Ohio Theatre's College Audience Initative program. Over the course of the run, the production will be performed for nearly a thousand college students from the Tri-state area.

TWO-MAN KIDNAPPING RULE stars Curran Connor (Partial Comfort's The Maine Play and Baby Girl), Duane Cooper (Yes We Can at Walkerspace) and Andy Lutz (Broadway's A Man For All Seasons).

JOSEPH GALLO's plays include My Italy Story (Off-Broadway at the 47th Street Theatre, Gay Talese Literary Prize nominee), Warning: Adult Content, and Staten Island. His work has been seen on the stages of the Atlantic Theatre Company, Barrow Street Theatre, Playwrights Horizons, Manhattan Class Company, HERE, the Lark, Pearl Theater, Samuel Beckett Theatre, 78th Street Theatre, Theatre 54, TheaterWorks (Hartford, CT), Cincinnati Playhouse, Delaware Stage Company, Orlando Fringe Festival, Kennedy Center, Bridge Theatre Company; and at both the Hudson Guild Theatre and Hayworth Theatre (Los Angeles, CA). He also co-created and wrote the text for two dance/theater pieces Tannhauser: A Dance Play and 80% of Love, both at the Obie award-winning Ice Factory Festival at the Ohio Theatre. He is currently a member of The Actors Studio Playwrights and Directors Workshop. For more info visit www.josephgalloplaywright.com.

TWO-MAN KIDNAPPING RULE runs October 29 - November 20, Thursday - Saturday at 8 p.m, Saturday and Sunday at 3 pm. The New Ohio Theatre is located at 154 Christopher Street (accessible from the 1 train to Christopher Street or the A, C, E, B, D, F, or M trains at West 4th Street). Tickets are $18, available at 212-868-4444 or www.smarttix.com. For more information visit www.sohothinktank.org.