Lucie Tiberghien directs the work, which kicked off the company's 15th season when it began previews Oct. 10 for a limited run through Nov. 5 at The Public Theater.
LAByrinth Company members Carlo Alban (References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot) reprises the role he created in the Barn Series reading of this new work opposite Quincy Tyler Bernstine (Matt & Ben), Lee Sellars (The Alchemist) and Isiah Whitlock Jr. (Four).
The Washington D.C.-set tale follows a widow (Bernstine) who is timid about re-engaging in her life when she meets a cop through a male friend. When her friend discovers secrets about the new beau's past, she struggles with how much she wants or needs to know.
A Tectonic Theatre Company member who helped pen The Laramie Project, Belber is the playwright of Match and Tape — the latter enjoyed an Off-Broadway run and film adaptation. Other plays include McReele, Carol Mulroney, One Million Butterflies, Finally, The Death of Frank, The Transparency Of Val, Through Fred, The Wake, Broken Fall, Steve, Wind and Stone Cold Lyricism.
Director Tiberghien has staged The Pavilion, The Winning Streak, The Quiet Room/Quand J'Avais Cinq Ans Je M'ai Tue, the world premiere of Flag Day as well as Only the End of the World, The Last Schwartz, The Death of Frank, Through Fred and Finally. Alban appeared in the Barn Series reading opposite Portia, Ron Cephas Jones and Chris McGarry.
The LAB's 15th season will continue with Bob Glaudini's Jack Goes Boating, starring Beth Cole, Daphne Rubin-Vega, John Ortiz and Philip Seymour Hoffman; and Eric Bogosian's This Is Now! penned with musician-composer Elliott Sharp; as well as developmental productions of Carlo Alban's intríngulis and Andrea Ciannavei's Pretty Chin Up.
The company will present its fourth annual "Celebrity Charades" benefit Nov. 13. Among the stars expected to participate are Dana Delaney, Edie Falco, Anthony Mackie, Juliana Margulies, Rosie Perez, Sam Rockwell, Cynthia Rowley, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Justin Theroux, Yul Vazquez, David Zayas and more.
Tickets to A Small, Melodramatic Story, at the Public Theatre, 425 Lafayette Street, are available by calling (212) 967-7555. For more information, visit www.labtheater.org.
