BASiC Theatre Project's NI****/FA**** to Debut at Downtown Urban Theater Festival, 3/15

Ni****/Fa****: a new play premiering as part of the Downtown Urban Theater Festival is a two-hander that takes on race and sexuality; a topic that, as the play's title suggests, can often be a provocative discussion. The play, written by Keelay Gipson is being co-produced by BASiC Theatre Project and directed by BASiC's artistic director and co-founder, Zi Alikhan. The show features Sean Bell and Stephen Conrad Moore in the titular roles. The show premieres in the festival on March 15th.

This is how the play is billed: A meditation on race and sexuality as viewed through the prism of workplace politics. This play puts two completely different people in a room and challenges them to move past their assumptions of one another and perceived cultural stereotypes. Somewhere in NYC this conversation is happening -- Are you a part of it?

Zi Alikhan is the co-founder and artistic director of BASiC Theatre Project. A Graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. BASiC re-examines existing pieces of theatre young and old, fosters new works and young writers who are taking on our own generation's joys and struggles, and devises projects from non-traditional source material to create an artistic arsenal that leaves audiences re-examining the world around them and striving to be the change they wish to see. http://basictheatreproject.com/

Keelay Gipson is a multi-disciplinary artist including work as an actor, filmmaker, poet/writer and director. A Graduate of Pace University, he has directed productions of Red Light Winter and See What I Wanna See as well as new plays and concert pieces. He has assisted on projects such as The Last Days of Judas Iscariot by Stephen Adley Gurguis and White's Lies starring Betty Buckley. His work has been seen at The Wild Project and featured in readings by Poetic Theater Productions.

Sean Bell has appeared in numerous productions in New York City and in regional theatres across the country, and has toured the US and Canada. Previous credits include: Camelot: In Concert starring Jeremy Irons (The Schubert), The Radio City Christmas Spectacular (National Tour), Bobby in A Chorus Line (Maine State Music Theatre), Clifford Anderson in Deathtrap (The Fulton Opera House), Edwin Bricker in All American (Musicals Tonight!), and many more.

Stephen Conrad Moore is a Yale School of Drama Graduate. NEW YORK THEATRE: Lincoln Center, Bone Orchard Theatre Company, The Civilians, Classical Theatre of Harlem, Columbia Stages, Flux Theatre, Full Stop Collective, In The Cypher,The Lark, Playwright's Theatre, Red Fern, Working Man's Clothes. REGIONAL: Arizona Theatre Company, Ensemble Company for the Performing Arts, Hope Rep, Kansas City Rep, The O'Neill, Philadelphia Theatre Company's, Shakespeare Theatre in D.C., Virginia Stage Company, Yale Rep.

Photo credit: Whitney Browne; Poster Design: Sean Stewart.