Nell Balaban, assistant director of Broadway's Golda's Balcony, directs the production, which features original music on piano performed live by Jon Quinn.
The play is "is a live action romance novel about four co-eds who find a striking stranger trying to rob their house," according to production notes. "His punishment? One weekend in the basement — as their sex slave. But see what happens when Lance Speedworth breaks into their home…and steals their hearts. Sexy, funny and touching, The Boy in the Basement is a story about friendships with modern commentary on the contemporary romance novel."
The cast includes Lynne Rosenberg and Katharine Heller (both honored with a 2007 Fringe Festival Award for Outstanding Ensemble for Naked in a Fishbowl), Nick Fondulis (NBC pilot "Kings"), Michael Solis (Cubicle Improv), Tom Macy, Meghan Powe and Anna Stumpf.
Director Balaban has served as associate director to Scott Schwartz on many plays and musicals, including The Foreigner (starring Matthew Broderick) and Golda's Balcony (starring Tovah Feldshuh). She's worked at venues including The Roundabout, Paper Mill Playhouse, The Alley Theatre (Houston), Goodspeed Opera House and The Alliance Theatre (Atlanta). As a Broadway actress, she appeared in the original Broadway cast of Jane Eyre.
Author Heller is a New York native who has appeared in numerous improv and theatre shows including Chick Flicks, Ka-Baam! and Forbidden Fruit. She recently starred in the short film, "The Thorny Rose" for Cherry Films, a new company headed by Ethan Coen's wife, Tricia Cooke. Written originally as a book six years ago as a gift to her three college housemates (on whom the story is loosely based), Heller then self-published "The Boy in the Basement" as a novel. The production team consists of Kathryn Moise (producer), Sean Tribble (set design), Grant Yeager (lighting design) and Terra Vetter (stage manager).
Soho Playhouse is located at 15 Vandam Street between Sixth Avenue & Varick in Manhattan. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at www.fringenyc.org or by calling (866) 468-7619.
Running time is 75 minutes. For more information on the show visit www.TheBoyInTheBasement.com.
