Holthouse's story, which gained national attention on NPR's "This American Life" in 2011, is adapted and directed for the stage by Markus Potter. At seven Holthouse was violently raped by a family friend who was ten years older. The truth remained concealed until years later Holthouse's parents discovered the childhood journal he had kept. Holthouse ultimately went public with his story, which included a face-to-face meeting with his attacker decades later.
The play is created from the original true story and subsequent news reports, as well as conversations with Holthouse, lectures he has given around the country and original text by the playwright, with additional writing by Shane Zeigler and Shane Stokes.
The readings will take place May 19. Weller (Mothers and Sons, Glengarry Glen Ross) will portray the Bogeyman, with Heck (Cabaret, The Orphans' Home Cycle) as Holthouse.
The reading is presented by NewYorkRep, R. Erin Craig, Soumyo Sarkar, David Syner, Wolfstone Productions and David Wine.
Producers are aiming for a commercial Off-Broadway run this fall. Stalking the Bogeyman had its world premiere at the NC Stage company in Asheville, NC last fall. The cast will also include Shawn Elliott (Marie Christine, City of Angels), Lee Roy Rodgers (Tribes, Orson's Shadow), Ray Virta (An Enemy of the People, Arcadia) and Amy Von Nostrand (The God Committee, The Hothouse).
According to producers, "A humanizing story of transformation, healing and forgiveness of the highest order, Stalking the Bogeyman follows one man's powerful hunt for revenge as he comes to grips with the killer inside him. In the spring of 2003, David Holthouse was a successful, award-winning journalist. But no one knew that David had two incredibly dark secrets - first, that 25 years ago he was the victim of a violent rape, and now, that he was planning the ultimate revenge on the man responsible."