COMPLETENESS Offers $5 Lottery Tickets Opening Night!

Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) begins accepting entries today, Wednesday, August 10, for its popular LIVEforFIVE online lottery for $5 tickets to the New York premiere of COMPLETENESS, a new play by Itamar Moses (The Four of Us, Bach at Leipzig) and directed by Obie Award winner Pam MacKinnon (Clybourne Park at PH, The Four of Us, Occupant, Peter and Jerry).

A ticketing initiative created in 2007 as part of Playwrights Horizons' Arts Access program, LIVEforFIVE makes a limited number of $5 tickets available for the first preview performance of each Playwrights Horizons production through a lottery via the company's website (www.playwrightshorizons.org). The LIVEforFIVE lottery for COMPLETENESS will be for tickets to the first preview on Friday, August 19 at 8PM at Playwrights Horizons' Mainstage Theater (416 West 42nd Street).

Details for the LIVEforFIVE lottery are as follows: beginning today at 10AM, theatergoers can enter the lottery by filling out an entry form at www.playwrightshorizons.org. Entries will be accepted until Monday, August 15 at 12 Noon. Winners of the lottery will be notified via email no later than 3PM on Monday, August 15 with instructions on how to book their $5 tickets. Unclaimed tickets will be offered via email starting at 12 Noon on Tuesday, August 16 on a first-come, first-served basis. One or two tickets may be purchased for $5 each. At least 50 tickets will be available for Mainstage shows via the lottery.

The production will have its official opening on Tuesday, September 13 at 7PM and continue through Sunday, September 25. The cast will feature Brian Avers (Rock ‘n' Roll and The Lieutenant of Inishmore on Broadway, Kevin Kline's King Lear at The Public, Julie and Julia), Aubrey Dollar (Juvenilia at PH, Bottom of the World at The Atlantic, "Women's Murder Club," "Ugly Betty") and Meredith Forlenza (A Behanding in Spokane and Pal Joey on Broadway, NBC's "Mercy"), as well as Karl Miller (Columbinus at NYTW, the world premiere of Completeness at South Coast Repertory, Helen Hayes Award for Angels in America at Forum Theatre), who joins the company to step in for the previously-announced Lucas Kavner.

How does a computer scientist hook up with a molecular biologist? He blinds her with science, of course. In COMPLETENESS, when Elliot (Mr. Miller) builds a computer program to help Molly (Ms. Dollar) with her research project, the variables in their evolving relationship shift as rapidly as the terms of their experiment. This deft and imaginative new ROM-comedy shows that even the most sophisticated algorithm may freeze in the face of life's infinite possibilities.

The production features scenic and costume designs by David Zinn, lighting design by Russell H. Champa, original music and sound design by Bray Poor and projection and video design by Rocco DiSanti. Production Stage Manager is Charles M. Turner III.

The Arts Access program at Playwrights Horizons allows the institution to reach out to those who may not be able to afford the cost of a full-prIce Theater ticket. This program is supported, in part, by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, The McGraw-Hill Companies and the Elroy and Terry Krumholz Foundation.

Other Arts Access initiatives, both of which reflect Playwrights Horizons' ongoing commitment to making its productions more affordable to younger audiences, include HOTtix, $25 rush tickets, subject to availability, day of performance only, starting one hour before showtime to patrons aged 30 and under. Proof of age required. One ticket per person, per purchase. STUDENT RUSH, $15 rush tickets, subject to availability, day of performance only, starting one hour before curtain to full-time graduate and undergraduate students. One ticket per person, per purchase. Valid full-time student ID required.

Arts Access memberships (where tickets can be purchased in advance, when single tickets go on sale) are: 30&UNDER MEMBERSHIP, $20 membership fee per season and one $20 ticket for each show, as desired (proof of age required for membership); and STUDENT MEMBERSHIP, $10 membership fee per season and one $10 ticket for each show, as desired (valid full-time student ID required for membership).

Leadership support for COMPLETENESS was generously provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

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