TNC's 2016 Dream Up Festival to Present LURED

LURED, a new play by Frank J. Avella that explores the persecution of gays in Russia, will be presented in the 2016 Dream Up Festival at Theater for the New City (Crystal Field, Artistic Director).

Based on factual accounts and events, LURED focuses on a Russian hate group's attack on a young gay man and its repercussions. The play brutally depicts how these vigilantes lure and entrap LGBT people, humiliating and sometimes torturing them on camera.

"In Russia, in the last several years, gays have been persecuted and tortured, with the blessing of the Russian government and Russian-Orthodox Church," said Avella. "The play reveals some of the shocking ways in which vigilante groups are involved in LGBT persecution."

The cast of LURED features Cameron August, John Ball, Carlotta Brentan, Cali Gilman, Brian Patterson, Dave Stishan, and Ian Whitt.

LURED is directed by Rod Kaats. Christine Cox is the associate producer. David Shocket is the lighting designer. Fight choreography is by Kris "Cappy" Caplinger. John David West is the social media coordinator. Mario Merone is the stage manager.

Frank J. Avella (Author) received a 2015 Fellowship Award from the NJ State Council on the Arts for his play Consent, which was a semi-finalist for the 2012 O'Neill and will be published by Adirondack Plays as part of an LGBTQ anthology this winter. He is the recipient of a 2016 Helene Wurlitzer Residency Grant & Bumbalo/Chesley Foundation Playwright Award, also for Consent, which confronts bullying and homophobia. Frank has written 19 full-length plays. Vatican Falls, set against the backdrop of the Catholic sex abuse scandal, will have its World Premiere in February of 2018 in Malta. His other work includes: Lured, For Mamma, Michael's #1 Fan and Orville Station (published in the UK by Lazy Bee Scripts). Upon reviewing Frank's farce Iris, the Cincinnati Post wrote: "Avella's plays tend to send earthquakes through his audience's comfort zones." He is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild.

Rod Kaats (Director) directed Marvin's Room (with T.R. Knight) and Company (with Norm Lewis & Donna McKechnie) at the Helen Hayes Theatre Company in Nyack, NY (where he was also the Artistic Director). He directed Neil's Garden at Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre and wrote and directed The Ballad of Little Jo in The Harold Prince Musical Theatre Program, a new musical that was subsequently awarded The Richard Rodgers Award and produced at Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago. Rod produced the West Coast production of Silence! The Musical and What You Will starring Roger Rees at American Conservatory Theatre. TCG New Artistic Directors Program, Charles H. Revson Directing Fellowship, Lincoln Center Lab Director, Usual Suspect at New York Theatre Workshop.

Performances will be held on Mon., Sept. 5th at 6:30pm, Sat., Sept. 10th & Sun., Sept. 11th at 2PM, Mon., Sept. 12th & Thurs., Sept. 15th at 6:30PM and Sun., Sept. 18th at 8PM. Tickets ($18) can be purchased online at www.LuredThePlay.com or by calling 212-864-4444. LURED is recommended for mature audiences.

Theatre for the New City is located at 155 1st Avenue between East 9th and 10th Streets, NYC. Subways: 6 (Astor Place), L (1st Av), N, R (8th St - NYU).

For more information visit www.LuredThePlay.com or call 973-715-2356.