The sins of the father are visited upon the son once again in Sam Shepard's primal family drama Curse of the Starving Class, which will be presented starting October 27th at The Bridge Theatre in Manhattan by a new company, Actors and Directors Living in Brooklyn (AdLib). Directed by AdLib's Artistic Director James Williams, the project evolved into a full production from the group's staged reading series, seeming even more topical and relevant than when it was first written. Set in the American Southwest in the late 1970s, dysfunctionality, alcoholism, and greed abound as the characters struggle for meaning and survival. The play testifies to Shepard's profound insight into Capitalism's contribution to the decimation of the middle class and the "American Dream."
The family consists of an alchoholic father, a disconnected mother, a daughter precocious beyond her years, and a deranged idealist son. This major award-winning work by Sam Shepard focuses on both the insane family dynamic and the havoc wrecked by the economic greed of bankers, mortgage lenders, and land grabbers. Whether they are ranting at the empty ice box, carrying lambs around the stage naked, sleeping on the kitchen table, shooting up bars on horseback, or having their cars blown to smithereens, this family will keep you laughing or shedding tears at their plight.
All performances held at The Bridge Theatre, 244 West 54th Street in New York City from October 27, 2011 through November 13, 2011 (Thurs.-Sat. @ 8pm, Sun @ 2pm). Tickets are $18.00 and are available at www.smarttix.com, or by phone 212-868-4444.
Cast: Kam Metcalf*, Randy Miles*, Elizabeth Swearingen*, and Michael Venzor head the cast and are supported by Justin Bennett*, Scott Cagney, Stephen Glearson*, Kirk Miller and Joe Spade.
* These actors are appearing courtesy of Actor's Equity Association.
Crew: David Bragin (set designer), Maggie Scott (stage manager), Josie Williams (costume designer), and MaryAnn Woo (props).
Jim Williams is the Founder and Artistic Director of Actors and Directors Living in Brooklyn. His directing credits include Romeo and Juliet, Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolff, and Beckett's Play. As an actor, Jim performed the leading role of Thomas Jefferson with Glenn Close in The Common Glory and played the roles of the Gravedigger and Fortinbras with Austin Pendelton in Hamlet. He has appeared both off Broadway and off-off Broadway since 1972.
Actors and Directors Living in Brooklyn (AdLib) was formed in March of 2010 as the Brooklyn Play Reading Group to provide opportunities for actors and directors living in Brooklyn to practice their craft. The group has evolved into a core of actors and directors dedicated to developing their work to the next level of fully staged productions. AdLib has grown to include playwrights as well as theater artists living outside Brooklyn. The group continues to meet monthly for play readings and will present a staged reading by one of our emerging playwrights in November 2011. The group consists of both well-seasoned Equity actors and those new to the theater arts. Company members are contributing such skills as stage management, lighting design, scene design, and all the other skills necessary to bring our current work to the stage. For more information, please go to http://www.niany.com
WHERE:The Bridge Theatre
@ Shetler Studios
244 West 54th Street, 12th Floor
between Broadway and 8th Ave.
New York, New York, 10019
Subway: 1, 9, C, E to 50th Street
N, R to 57th Street
