Long Wharf Theatre to Premiere Laura Jacqmin's January Joiner: A Weight Loss Horror Comedy

By Adam Hetrick
31 Dec 2012

Laura Jacqmin
Laura Jacqmin

The Long Wharf Theatre will stage the world premiere of Laura Jacqmin's January Joiner: A Weight Loss Horror Comedy, which will begin performances Jan. 9, 2013, in New Haven, CT.

Eric Ting will stage the play that centers on the strained relationship between two sisters. January Joiner will officially open Jan. 16, 2013, for a run through Feb. 10, 2013.

"The play grapples with the American obsession with size, and what our bodies say about us," Jacqmin said in a statement. "If what's outside is the only thing that counts, do our insides really matter? What happens to us when the people who are closest to us change?"

The cast includes Ashlie Atkinson (Terry), Anthony Bowden (Brian), Tonya Glanz (April), Meredith Holzman (Myrtle), Maria-Christina Oliveras (Not-Terry) and Daniel Stewart Sherman (Darnell.)

According to Long Wharf, "Eat less. Exercise more. Make healthy choices. Ignore the bloodthirsty vending machine when it speaks to you. The clientele of a high-end weight loss spa in sunny Florida try to live these mantras daily. But at what cost? In this modern age, when we are barraged with rail thin models in magazines, 'miracle' cleanses and fad diets, January Joiner asks, why can't we just be happy with ourselves? Alternately hilarious, moving and chilling, this new comedy by Laura Jacqmin, one of the country's most exciting emerging playwrights, shows us that what appears in the mirror isn¹t always what it seems."

The January Joiner creative team includes Narelle Sissons (set design), Oana Botez (costume design), Stephen Strawbridge (lighting design) and Leah Gelpe (sound design).

Jacqmin's plays include Ski Dubai, Look, We Are Breathing and Dental Society Midwinter. Her play Two Lakes, Two Rivers was workshopped at the 2012 O'Neill National Playwrights Conference.

For tickets visit LongWharf.org. The Long Wharf Theatre is located at 222 Sargent Drive in New Haven, CT.