WHAT HAPPENED WAS... By Tom Noonan Comes to The Assembly Theatre

Despite being a regular fixture of New York City's Off-Broadway community for more than three decades, the work of Tom Noonan is rarely presented on Toronto stages. Now, two of our city's most exciting and dynamic indie theatre companies are coming together to produce Noonan's classic one-act play, WHAT HAPPENED WAS...

In this richly layered early-90s play, two vaguely acquainted co-workers meet for a first date. What begins with a deceptively simple premise soon unfolds into a sly, disturbing dissection of modern dating rituals. As two lonely New Yorkers struggle to open up to one another, they inadvertently reveal more about themselves than they ever intended, exposing something ominous and sinister lurking just beneath the surface.

The new Toronto production of WHAT HAPPENED WAS... will be directed by Witchboy Theatre's co-artistic director, Christopher Hayes, and will feature Breanna Dillon (Love and Human Remains; Witchboy Theatre co-artistic director) and Craig Henderson (The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, Unit 102; "Hemlock Grove," Netflix). The production design will be created by set designer, Mike Vitorovitch (Adult Entertainment, Triple Bypass Productions; Through The Tulips, Branchout Theatre).

Tom Noonan is a well-known actor, writer, and director. His work in theatre began with the role of Tilden in the original Off-Broadway production of Sam Shepard's Buried Child. He founded the Paradise Factory theatre in NYC in 1983, which became an incubator for developing plays and films. His film adaptation of WHAT HAPPENED WAS... made him a fixture in the cinematic arthouse scene. The film was a hit at the Sundance Film Festival, winning the Grand Jury Prize and the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award. Gene Siskel raved,"One of my favourite films of the year! I've always felt there was a great film to be made out of a first date... Now I've seen it! It's superb!" To this day, WHAT HAPPENED WAS... remains a cult classic.

Leroy Street Theatre-- one of two co-founding resident companies of Parkdale's Assembly Theatre-- is excited to partner with Witchboy Theatre, who are returning to Toronto's indie scene after a three year hiatus. Previous Witchboy Theatre productions include Metropolitan Operas and Love and Human Remains.

Staged in Toronto's hottest new theatrical venue for independent work, the upcoming production of Tom Noonan's cult classic play will bring the spirit of Off-Broadway to Parkdale.

WHAT HAPPENED WAS...

By Tom Noonan

Directed by Christopher Hayes

THE ASSEMBLY THEATRE- 1479 Queen St. W

April 26 - May 5, Tuesdays - Saturdays, 8:00pm

Preview Performance: April 25

Tickets available at www.brownpapertickets.com

www.witchboytheatre.com

www.leroystreettheatre.com