THE CASTLE Ends Its Off-Broadway Run 5/23 At New World Stages

The hit Off-Broadway hit play, The Castle, will give its final performance Saturday, May 23, 2009, at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

The Castle is conceived and directed by David Rothenberg and written in collaboration with - and performed by - Vilma Ortiz Donovan, Kenneth Harrigan, Angel Ramos and Casimiro Torres, all of whom tell their own real-life stories, were all homeless when they came to the Fortune Academy (called The Castle), a residence for formerly incarcerated men and women. Since the play's inception, all four have moved into their own apartments and are fully employed, in addition to appearing in the play.

The Castle, a unique theatrical event that presents a searing, first-hand look at the lives of four formerly incarcerated New Yorkers and their re-entry into society, has become a critical hit and an instrument of education and change within the New York State Department of Correctional Services system.

The Castle received its world premiere at the Fortune Academy in February 2008, where it was seen by producers Eric Krebs and Chase Mishkin who were instrumental in moving the production to its Off Broadway home at New World Stages where performances began March 30, 2008.

During the past year, The Castle has been presented in Albany before New York state legislators, in nine New York City and New York state penal institutions and numerous universities, colleges and churches.

The Castle will continue to be performed at special events and is scheduled to play at Adelphi University on Sunday, May 24th as part of an anti-violence conference and at a New York state Department of Corrections conference in Brooklyn on June 22nd.

The Castle plays the Saturdays at 5:00 p.m. at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street). Tickets are $30 & $45 and are available at the New World Stages box office or via Telecharge (212-239-6200) / Telecharge.com.

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