Performances play the Downstairs Theater at P.S. 122, 150 First Avenue (at 9th Street). Opening is set for Jan. 9.
"Remember the summer of 2001?" ask the production notes. "From early May until Sept. 10, 2001, we were deluged with round-the-clock coverage of a missing Washington, D.C. intern and her connection with a congressman. Mr. Handel's Aphrodisiac poses the questions: 'What do you do if you wake up one morning and your dad, an undistinguished member of the U.S. Congress, is suddenly famous for his sex life — and under suspicion of murder?' 'Is there a support group?' 'And whom do you talk to, Chelsea Clinton?' If you're Avery and Alma Ferris — the adult children of congressman Dan Ferris, currently under investigation in the disappearance of Ilona Waxman — you try role-playing. You pretend to be the congressman and the intern. You maybe even summon up the most famous intern of all time for advice."
Rob Handel was born in Poughkeepsie, NY. His plays include The Exploding Hotel (The Royal Court Theatre "Hot From America" Series, London), Millicent Scowlworthy (O'Neill Playwrights Conference) and Being Difficult (Soho Rep Writer/Director Lab). He holds an MFA from Brown and has been a fellow at The MacDowell Colony (in 1997 and 1999), The Ragdale Foundation and The Hambidge Center.
Formerly director of foundation and corporate relations for the Mark Morris Dance Group, Handel now serves as director of development for St. Ann's Warehouse.
Ken Rus Schmoll directed 13P's inaugural production of Anne Washburn's The Internationalist. The cast includes Jennifer Dundas, Thomas Jay Ryan and Alison Weller. Designers are Sue Rees (set), Michelle R. Phillips (costume), Garin Marschall (lighting) and Bray Poor (sound).Maria Goyanes serves as producer.
Performances of Aphrodisiac continue to Jan. 30. All tickets are $15. The box office number for reservations is (212) 477-5288 or visit www.ticketweb.com.
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The members of 13P (www.13p.org) are billed as some of the hottest and most lauded young writers in New York. Among their number are four veterans of Actors Theatre of Louisville's Humana Festival, three veterans of the O'Neill Playwrights Conference, two Manhattan Theatre Club Fellows, two Princess Grace Award winners, a Helen Merrill Award winner, a Susan Smith Blackburn Award Winner, a Whiting Fellow, and a Jerome Fellow.
13P is made up of Sheila Callaghan, Erin Courtney, Madeleine George, Rob Handel, Ann Marie Healy, Julia Jarcho, Young Jean Lee, Winter Miller, Sarah Ruhl, Kate E. Ryan, Lucy Thurber, Anne Washburn, and Gary Winter.
