U.S. Premiere of Shepard's Kicking a Dead Horse Rides Into Town June 25

By Adam Hetrick
June 25, 2008

The U.S. premiere of Sam Shepard's Kicking a Dead Horse – starring Stephen Rea and Elissa Piszel – begins previews at the Public Theater June 25.

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. Piszel will be seen in the non-speaking role of Young Woman.

A co-production with Ireland's Abbey Theatre (where Kicking a Dead Horse was originally commissioned), the Shepard play will officially open July 14 at the Off-Broadway theatre. The Public Theater engagement of Kicking a Dead Horse was originally to conclude July 27, but was extended through Aug. 10.

Shepard directs his play that has a design team comprised of Brian Vahey (set design), Joan Bergin (costume design), John Comisky (lighting design) and Dan Moses Schreier (sound design).

The Public 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," "Pręt a Porter," "Interview with a Vampire," "The Doctor and the Devils," "The House," "Company of Wolves," "Loose Connections" and "Angel."

Show times are Tuesdays at 7 PM, Wednesdays-Fridays at 8 PM, Saturdays at 2 and 8 PM and Sundays at 3 and 7 PM.

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