The Austerity of Hope premiered as part of the 2011 Fresh Fruit Festival. Dan Dinero will direct the production that officially opens Oct. 21 for a run through Nov. 3 in the June Havoc Theatre. Elyssa Rabinowitz produces the run.

According to producers, The Austerity of Hope "exposes the interpersonal dynamics of a group of gay friends in Astoria Queens and the issues they and young adults across the country confronted during the 2008 election of Barack Obama – relationships, careers, finances and sex. During a period that famously renewed the spirit of politics in America, they begin to balance their excitement for the hope he promises with the realization that true change might only come from within each one of them."

The cast will include Akeem Baisden Folkes, Todd Flaherty, Derrick Ledbetter, Lee Garrett, Kohler McKenzie, Jacob Perkins, Emily Rieder, Max Rhyser, Micah Spayer and Anni Weisband.

The production has set design by Helen Ammon, lighting deisgn by Lauren Bremen and costume design by Liene Dobraja. The stage manager is Ashley Warren, and Tzipora Kaplan is the production manager.

For tickets, priced $18, visit smarttix.com. The Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex is located at 312 West 36th street.