Azuka Theatre Closes Production of NERVE, 5/2

Azuka Theatre finishes the Philadelphia Premiere of Adam Szymkowicz's biting dating comedy, Nerve May 2.

In this dark comedy, Szymkowicz takes a mirror to the world of online dating. Elliot has never had an online date show up while Susan has had far too many and would prefer not to discuss it. In Nerve, the pair navigates a premature declaration of love and far too much information about past relationships. With bits of modern dance, and a twisted Jiminy Cricket-like puppet, Nerve takes a wickedly comic look at the idea of falling into a relationship on the first date and a desperation that may or may not be love.

The New York Times called the play, "sweet, sexy, neurotic friendly." Gothamist declared, "...frequently laugh-out-loud funny, and in the end a neat little demonstration, if you needed one, of how much better live theatre can be than TV or movies when it comes to convincingly recreating human relationships in all their delicious complexity."

"I felt like these two people were a tad on the fringe; they have LOTS of quirks and aren't your run of the mill characters. As off center as they are, they're still trying to make a connection with someone else, they're still looking to find 'the one'," said Azuka Producing Artistic Director Kevin Glaccum. "It was something I felt audiences would feel connected to. As different as they are, the audience can still get them."

Glaccum directs this Philadelphia Premiere. Charlie DelMarcelle is appearing as Elliot. DelMarcelle appeared in Azuka's The Long Christmas Ride Home. As a director, he has worked regionally for the Fulton Opera House, PA Youth Theatre, Vagabond Acting Troupe, Triangle Theatre, Theatre of the Seventh Sister, PRC Theatre, University of Pennsylvania, Moravian College and Millersville University. Three of his productions have been honored with two Barrymore nominations for Outstanding Ensemble (A Christmas Carol and The Art of War) and a City Paper critic's pick for Bravest Production (Desinence: An Evening of Work by Samuel Beckett). Leah Walton is playing Susan. She has performed with Walnut Street Theatre, InterAct Theatre Company, Pig Iron Theatre Company, EgoPo Productions, Montgomery Theatre Company, Mum Puppettheatre among many others. She has also created original theatrical pieces in collaboration with other local artists, seen during Philadelphia Fringe Festivals. Leah trained in acting and movement at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Centers National Theater Institute, the Moscow Art Theatre School in Russia, Ithaca College and with the Michael Chekhov Association.

Adam Szymkowicz's plays have been produced throughout the U.S., and in Canada, England, The Netherlands and Lithuania. His work has been presented or developed at such places as MCC Theater, Ars Nova, South Coast Rep, Playwrights Horizons, LAByrinth Theater Company, The Lark, Kitchen Dog, HotINK, Theatre of Note and Studio Dante among others. Works include: Deflowering Waldo, Open Minds, Anne, The Art Machine, Pretty Theft, Food For Fish, Hearts Like Fists, Herbie, Incendiary, Old Fashioned Cold Fusion, Bee Eater, Temporary Everything, Susan Gets Some Play, Fat Cat Killers, and Elsewhere.. He received a Playwright's Diploma from The Juilliard School's Lila Acheson Wallace American Playwrights Program and an MFA from Columbia University where he was the Dean's Fellow. Szymkowicz is a two-time Lecomte du Nouy Prize winner, a member of the Dramatists Guild; the MCC Playwright's Coalition and was a founding member of the Ars Nova Play Group. He has been commissioned by South Coast Rep.

Dirk Durossette is designing the set for this black comedy. Alisa Sickora Kleckner is creating the costumes. Matt Ricchini is designing the sound and Andrew Nelson is composing original music. Joshua Schulman is designing the lights.

About Azuka Theatre
Azuka Theatre was founded in 1999 by group of artists participating in the Arden Theatre Company's nationally recognized Professional Apprentice Program. Azuka Theatre quickly built a reputation for accessible, thought-provoking and socially minded theatre. Over the past nine seasons, Azuka Theatre has produced eighteen plays, including seven world premiers, received a Lambda Award for their production of La Rue des Faux from The Philadelphia Gay News and been nominated for multiple Barrymore Awards, winning in 2008 for Outstanding Leading Actress in a Musical: Kim Carson in Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Azuka Theatre has been hailed as "a company to watch" and a "major player on the Philadelphia alterNative Theatre scene," by the Philadelphia Weekly.

Nerve
Written by: By Adam Szymkowicz
Directed by: Kevin Glaccum
Cast
Charlie DelMarcelle Elliot
Leah Walton Susan
Production Team
Set Designer Dirk Durossette
Costume Designer Alisa Sickora Kleckner
Sound Designer Matt Ricchini
Original Music Andrew Nelson
Lighting Designer Joshua Schulman
Stage Manager Debby Lau

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