Daniella Topol directs Zakiyyah Alexander's New York City-set play about Tasha, who, while taking care of her dying father, "becomes involved in an internet affair, is offered a promotion and suddenly finds herself having some unusual symptoms."
Topol told Playbill.com, "Sick is a gem of a play. It's heartbreaking in one moment and hysterical in the next. Zakiyyah's writing is fast and fluid — her characters are quirky and honest — and it is quite moving to watch a 30-something struggle to stay healthy, sexy, and successful while taking care of her sick father. Showcasing Sick as part of SPF has been an ideal opportunity to see the play realized with a top-notch cast and design team. It is a rare and much appreciated vehicle to grow the play to the next level."
Sick plays the Kirk Theatre at Theatre Row, 410 W. 42nd Street. The cast includes April Yvette Thompson as Tasha, Andre De Shields (Ain't Misbehavin', The Full Monty), Hoon Lee, Josh Heine and Susan Bloommaert.
The play is one of four new works bowing in the final week, July 26-31, of the second annual Summer Play Festival, funded by Arielle Tepper on four different stages. The fest began July 5.
The others are Kristoffer Diaz's Welcome to Arroyo's directed by Jaime Castaneda at the Beckett, Michelle Carter's Ted Kaczynski Killed People With Bombs directed by Jeremy Dobrish at the Clurman, Chloe Moss' How Love Is Spelt directed by Michael Sexton at the Lion. All tickets are $10. For schedule and more information, visit www.ticketcentral.com or www.spfnyc.com.
*
Founded and executive-produced by Arielle Tepper, the second Summer Play Festival (SPF), playing July 5-31, has a mission "to give emerging writers, directors, and producers an opportunity at no cost to themselves to work on their material in a protected environment, guided by established professionals. Sixteen plays are given full productions in the month of July under one roof at the Theatre Row Complex on 42nd Street, west of Ninth Avenue. Our goal is to promote and support the writer during and after the festival."
