Directed by Leah C. Gardiner and adapted from Alan Sillitoe's short story, the production continues through Feb. 9 at Atlantic Theater Company's Stage 2.
The cast features Eshan Bay (Agnes Under the Big Top, "House of Cards"), Sheldon Best (A Midsummer Night's Dream, "Person of Interest"), Zainab Jah (Ruined, A Doll's House), Jasmine Cephas Jones ("Titus, "Blue Bloods"), Patrick Murney (White Noise, "Law & Order"), Joshua E. Nelson (The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg, U.G.L.Y), Sydney Sainté (The Marriage of Figaro, Henry V), Raviv Ullman (Russian Transport, The Bad Guys), Todd Weeks (The Full Monty, Our Town) and Malik Yoba ("Cool Runnings, "The Good Wife").
Here's how the production is billed: "In this stage adaptation of Alan Sillitoe's classic short story, award-winning British playwright Roy Williams brings the young, defiant Colin Smith into the 21st century. Colin (Sheldon Best), with few prospects in life, finds himself in a prison school for criminal activity. He turns to long distance running as an escape, only to have the school exploit him for his talent, offering him a possible way out. Will he run his race for them, or for his independence?"
Olivier Award nominee Williams' plays include Advice for the Young at Heart, Category B, Angel House, Days of Significance, Joe Guy, There's Only One Wayne Matthews and Sucker Punch.
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner has scenic design by Lauren Helpern, costume design by Bobby Frederick Tilley II, lighting design by Michael Chybowski, sound design by Bart Fasbender and projection design by Pauline Lu and Paul Piekarz. Tickets and more information are available by visiting Atlantictheater.org.
