GLOUCESTER BLUE Workshop Production Set For Cherry Lane

The new play, GLOUCESTER BLUE, by celebrated writer Israel Horovitz, will be given a workshop production as part of the nine week STRIPPED festival of works about "sex, murder, revenge...and sex," presented by Barefoot Theatre Company, in collaboration with East 3rd Productions. Performances of the workshop production of GLOUCESTER BLUE, which will also be directed by the playwright, begin November 16 and run through December 3 at the Cherry Lane Studio Theatre (38 Commerce Street) in Manhattan. (Please note: GLOUCESTER BLUE is not open for review).

GLOUCESTER BLUE is a black comedy about a man who returns home after a long absence and encounters all manner of infidelities and murders. GLOUCESTER BLUE will feature original sound by Adam Horovitz, son of playwright Israel Horovitz and member of punk/rap group The Beastie Boys.

The cast of GLOUCESTER BLUE will feature Therese Plaehn (TAPE, THE LADY HAMLET), Francisco Solorzano (WHAT STRONG FENCES MAKE, DOG DAY AFTERNOON), Christopher Whalen (SECURITY, TEETH OF THE SONS) and Robert Walsh ("Evening," "State and Main").

The design team for GLOUCESTER BLUE is Victoria Malvagno (costume design), Niluka Hotaling (lighting design), Michael Mallard (set design), Nicole Haran (assistant director), Joseph Sousa (playwright assistant) and Samantha Fontana (production stage manager).

GLOUCESTER BLUE wraps up the "Stripped Festival," which opened earlier this fall with a revival of Joe Pintauro's RAFT OF THE MEDUSA. The Festival's second offering, the world premiere of VERSE CHORUS VERSE by Randall Colburn is running now through Nov. 12 at Cherry Lane Studio Theatre.

Israel Horovitz's best-known plays include LINE (now in its 39th year Off-Broadway), THE INDIAN WANTS THE BRONX, THE PRIMARY ENGLISH CLASS, THE WIDOW'S BLIND DATE, TODAY I AM A FOUNTAIN PEN, PARK YOUR CAR IN HARVARD YARD, NORTH SHORE FISH, MY OLD LADY, FREE GIFT, STATIONS OF THE CROSS, SPEAKING WELL OF THE DEAD, THE FAT GUY GETS THE GIRL, HOTEL PLAY and BEIRUT ROCKS. He wrote, directed and performed the award-winning documentary "3 Weeks After Paradise." He is the recipient of two Obie Awards, the Drama Desk Award and numerous other prestigious prizes.

Now in its 13th season, BAREFOOT THEATRE COMPANY's recent productions Off-Broadway include the premieres of EMERGENCY USED CANDLES, TEETH OF THE SONS, a stage adaptation of the film DOG DAY AFTERNOON, the 35th anniversary of Israel Horovitz's THE INDIAN WANTS THE BRONX, as well as the 70/70 HOROVITZ PROJECT, a yearlong worldwide festival that feature 70 of Horovitz's plays on the occasion of his 70th birthday.

East 3rd Productions' theatrical works include Zack Calhoon's THE WEIRD SISTERS, Nilo Cruz's A BICYCLE COUNTRY, STRANGE SNOW by Stephen Metcalfe, 70/70 HOROVITZ PROJECT, and the ENTER PLAYWRIGHT THEATER FESTIVAL. The company has also produced the short film "Tapeworm," recipient of the best short film award at Gotham Screen International Film Festival.

GLOUCESTER BLUE will perform Wednesdays through Fridays at 7 p.m. and Saturdays at 3 and 7 p.m. (with no performance Thursday, November 24). Tickets are $18; $15 for students/seniors (Pay-what-you-can night for GLOUCESTER BLUE has been set for November 23rd). Tickets can be purchased by calling 212-352-3101 or online at www.ovationtix.com or www.barefoottheatrecompany.org.

For more information on GLOUCESTER BLUE, the STRIPPED festival or Barefoot Thetare Company, please visit www.barefoottheatrecompany.org.

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