OFF OFF BROADWAY BABY!
Where brutal theater lives.

David Mogentale as Harry Caul
in THE CONVERSATION.
Photograph by Peter Sylvester

Adapted by Kate Harris
Directed by Leo Farley

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DRAMA DESK NOMINATION
SOUND DESIGN / JOSEPH FOSCO

Ran APRIL 3 - MAY 4, 2008
25 Performances

We know we have a bad reputation, and we're damn proud of it. 29th Street Rep was founded in April 1988 by five actors with a common goal: to produce exciting and visceral theater. We've done just that in the twenty years since, and what we have to show for it is 78 fully staged productions and a notoriety for shaking things up a bit.

Throughout its history, the acting company has remained at the center of each production, yet numerous guest artists have been invited to collaborate with 29th Street Rep both on and off stage. In 1994 Edward Norton created the role of "Christian Pilgrim" in Bill Nave's allegorical BIBLE BURLESQUE. Actress Laura Esterman directed on two occasions (Christopher Durang's TITANIC/ACTOR'S NIGHTMARE and THE WAKE OF JAMEY FOSTER by Beth Henley). Other notable guests include directors Jim Abar, Jason McConnell Buzas, Jim Holmes, John Clancy and Wilson Milam, playwrights Judith Thompson, John Olive and Anthony Clarvoe, and designers Stewart Wagner and Mark Symczak.

Recent highlights include a stirring production of the Vietnam memory play TRACERS (John DiFusco and ensemble) noted "Top Ten of 1997" by In Theater Magazine, the North American premiere of the controversial West End hit THE CENSOR (Anthony Nielsen) and the critically acclaimed 1994 New York Premiere of KILLER JOE by Tracy Letts. This memorable production had a three month extended run at the theater and in the Fall of 1998, a commercial revival opened to glowing reviews at The Soho Playhouse. As Co-Producers, 29th Street Rep received a Drama Desk nomination for Best Revival of a Play.

In 2000 the company premiered to packed houses, the works of writer Charles Bukowski's short stories SOUTH OF NO NORTH and then captivated audiences with a twice held-over, first major NYC revival of Sam Shepard's FOOL FOR LOVE. A revival The New York Times called "as threatening as the original". This production ran an unprecedented 122 performances over 19 weeks, breaking all box office and audience attendance records along the way.

Most recently, 29th Street Rep rediscovered HIGH PRIEST OF CALIFORNIA by pulp-writer Charles Willeford. HIGH PRIEST was subsequently named one of the best Off-Broadway plays of the season by The New York Times (2003). In September of that year the company presented Rona Munro's BOLD GIRLS. This Irish drama (by a Scottish writer) played to packed houses in its extended eight weeks at this theater and prompted The New Yorker to quip "Once again, 29th Street Rep has succeeded in creating thought-provoking theatre out of tough emotions."

2004 saw 29th Street Rep startle audiences with Adrian Hall's adaption of convicted killer and celebrated writer Jack Henry Abbott's IN THE BELLY OF THE BEAST REVISITED, (honored with a videotaping for The Lincoln Center Theater Archives joining past productions KILLER JOE, PIG, BOBBY SUPREME, AVENUE A, SOUTH OF NO NORTH and HIGH PRIEST OF CALIFORNIA). You can get more info on the archives by calling 212.870.1642 or at The New York Public Library.

And in 2005 the company premiered Brian Dykstra's HIDING BEHIND COMETS to a sold-out, extended ten week run and brought "sweaty palmed suspense back to the stage" or so said The New York Sun.

29th St Rep - Where Brutal Theater Lives!

Sound Clip: "Bam" Will Pitts © 1999