By Adam Hetrick
10 Aug 2008

Stephen Rea
photo by Joan Marcus

The U.S. premiere of Sam Shepard's Kicking a Dead Horse, starring Stephen Rea, concludes its extended engagement at the Public Theater Aug. 10. Playwright Shepard also directs.

Originally scheduled to run through July 27, Kicking a Dead Horse was extended an additional two weeks through Aug. 10. The Public run is a co-production with Ireland's Abbey Theatre, where Kicking a Dead Horse was originally commissioned.

The two-hander concerns Americana art dealer Hobart Struther, who heads west in search of the "real thing," but all he gets is a dead horse and an existential crisis. Shepard penned the role of art dealer Hobart Struther especially for Academy Award nominee Rea. Actress Elissa Piszel performs the non-speaking role of Young Woman.

Kicking a Dead Horse has a design team composed of Brian Vahey (set design), Joan Bergin (costume design), John Comisky (lighting design) and Dan Moses Schreier (sound design).

The Public has previously presented Shepard's Curse of the Starving Class (1978), Tongues (1979), True West (1980) and Simpatico (1994).

Stephen Rea received an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe nomination for his work in the film "The Crying Game" and a Tony Award nomination for his performance in Someone Who'll Watch Over Me. He began his career at the Abbey Theatre before moving to London. Among Rea's numerous film credits are "Stuck," "Sisters," "Sixty Six," "Till Death," "V for Vendetta," "Breakfast on Pluto," "The River Queen," "The Good Shepherd," "The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea," "All Men Are Mortal," "Prêt a Porter," "Interview with a Vampire," "The Doctor and the Devils," "The House," "Company of Wolves," "Loose Connections" and "Angel."

The Public Theater is located at 425 Lafayette Street. Tickets are available by calling (212) 967-7555 or by visiting PublicTheater.