Stephen Gaydos penned the Pittsburgh-set Off-Off Broadway play, directed by Paul Zablocki at the Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex. Opening is Oct. 25.
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In the play, Bobby, aged 32, returns from New York to his family's home outside Pittsburgh after the events of 9/11, prompted by his concern that his younger brother, Chris, may be retreating from loved ones and falling into anger and despair over the state of the world.
The elder brother tries to encourage a teenaged romance between Chris and Kate, a classmate, but Chris starts to don military garb, hoard weapons and talks of protecting his girlfriend, Meg from terrorists. Turns out Meg is an old flame of Bobby's (she's billed as a bed-hopping dope user). Bobby tries to correct his past mistakes with her and address his own wasted years.
"Immediately after 9/11 the first plays were mostly, and understandably, directly related to the events," says director Paul Zablocki, in production notes. "But this new wave seems to reflect the introspection since then. These plays aren't necessarily about 9/11, but the writers allowed themselves to be affected by the events and create art that takes place in a post 9/11 world. They seem to present characters desperately searching for order and meaning in a which appears to have run amok." The company includes Michael Szeles, Josh Heine, Meg Howrey, Megan McNulty and Stephanie Weldon.
Designers are Chris R. Jones (set and lighting), Karl Ruckdeschel (costumes), Dean Gray (sound and music).
The Attic is Stephen Gaydos' second full-length play produced by Assembly Productions (Not in Front of the Baby being the first). Assembly is dedicated to supporting the careers of its emerging playwrights and strives to offer them opportunities on all levels of play development, from inception to full production.
Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex is at 312 W. 36th Street, first floor. Performances are Thursdays-Saturdays at 8 PM, Sundays at 3 PM with added performances Tuesday and Wednesday, November 11 and 12 at 8 PM. Tickets are $15 and can be reserved by calling (212) 868-4444. For more information, go to www.assemblyproductions.org .