Buttram is artistic director of Abingdon Theatre Company, which has produced 64 new American plays in its 18-year history. Performances play to Feb. 26 the Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex's Dorothy Strelsin Theatre (312 W. 36th Street).
Kate Bushmann directs Peter Brouwer (whose experience includes being a real-life auctioneer), previously seen at Abingdon in My Deah, God's Daughter and Buttram's Glory Girls and Leopold Lowe, an Audelco Award winner for his work in Classical Theatre of Harlem's revival of Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.
Here's how Abingdon bills the play: "When slave auctioneer Malcolm Jeters falls from his mule in Mississippi's Natchez Trace, he is left stranded, injured and starving. Tom, a runaway slave, discovers him, offering a sliver of hope in the vast swampland. The meeting triggers a desperate negotiation for Malcolm's rescue. Who will pay the highest price?"
The production team includes scenic designer Andrew Lu; costume designer Catherine Siracusa and Sidney Levitt; lighting designer Travis McHale; and sound designer David Margolin Lawson. The production stage manager is Genevieve Ortiz.
Playwright Buttram's play include Phantom Killer, Private Battles, Texas Homos and The Parker Family Circus. Lost on the Natchez Trace plays Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7 PM; Friday and Saturdays at 8 PM; with 2 PM matinees on Saturdays and Sundays (with the following exception: opening, Sunday, February 12 at 5 PM).
Tickets are $25. For tickets and more information about Abingdon Theatre Company (312 W. 36th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues), call (212) 868-2055 or visit www.abingdontheatre.org.
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Abingdon Theatre Company concludes its 19th season with the world premiere of Frank Tangredi's new play Lifeline, directed by Jules Ochoa (March 9-April 1).
