Slightly Altered States Premieres absurdist comedy inspired by Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
September 12 - October 4 at The Flea Theater
"One of those multifaceted finds that rewards those who bravely search out new plays at small theaters." -- The L Magazine (on The Chess Lesson)
Sari Caine "proves to be both a gifted physical actress... and one who can find emotional truth in everything." -- TheaterMania
Slightly Altered States Theater Company presents the World Premiere of MR. LANDING TAKES A FALL, an absurdist comedy by Sari Caine, directed by Sherri Eden Barber. Inspired by Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, the play was a PlayPenn 2013 semi-finalist and short-listed for both the 24/7 (UK) and the Ronald Duncan Award (UK). Previews begin September 12 at The Flea Theater with opening slated for Monday, September 22.
In MR. LANDING TAKES A FALL, a woman secretly decides to put her family's longtime home up for sale. When a young couple stumbles into the house, a darkly comic dystopian journey begins. What does Home really mean, and how do you live with the ones you love -- or leave them?
MR. LANDING TAKES A FALL stars Adam LeFevre (Broadway's Footloose, Mamma Mia, Guys and Dolls), Kathryn Rossetter (who appeared on Broadway opposite Dustin Hoffman in Death Of a Salesman), Sari Caine and David Rigo. The production team includes Alison McBryde (casting), Derek Wright (lights), Clifton Chadwick (set), and Mark Van Hare (sound design and composition), Jacob Grigolia-Rosenbaum (fight choreographer,) Meghan Ward (stage manager) and Caitlin Cisek (costumes) with wardrobe provided by Zac Posen.
Sari Caine is a NYC bred playwright and actress. Her plays, which include The Chess Lesson, The Thing About Dan, Rabbit on the Landing, The Cafe Plays, Endicott, and Christmas Island, have been produced at IRT, Jimmy’s No. 43, Roy Arias Theater, and The Strawberry Festival. She is an Artistic Associate with Purple Rep Theater Company. As an actress she has appeared in TV's Orange is the New Black, Mr Destiny, The Crucible Off-Broadway, Hey You Lightman, Picasso at the Lapin-Agile, The Children's Hour with Kate Burton, A Change Of Address with Allison Janney, and shows at Circle in the Square, EST, York Theater, St. Clements, La Mama, and Arclight.
Sherri Eden Barber is a New York-based theatre director. Recent directing credits include: Herman Klineʼs Midlife Crisis with Adam Lefevre (The Beckett), Inadmissible (Canal Park Playhouse), Latrell: Live Tonight! (Joeʼs Pub), Love, Yourself (New York Theatre Workshop/IHI Gala), Tapefaces (Ars Nova), Dance Lessons (Theatre Row, winner of the Samuel French Short Play Festival), Empire of the Trees (Abingdon Theatre), Only You Can Prevent Wildfires (Culture Project), and How To Quit Smoking and Baptism (Atlantic). She has developed new work with The Orchard Project, New York Theatre Workshop, Harlem Stage, Classic Theatre of Harlem, Primary Stages, The Flea, Culture Project, The 24 Hour Play Company, and The Old Vic. Sherri is a Drama League Directing Fellow and recipient of the US/UK Exchange Award. She was awarded the SDCF Directing Observership and was an Ockrent Directing Fellowship nominee. She received her MFA in Directing from The New School for Drama.
Slightly Altered States is a not-for-profit theater company made up of actors, writers, and improvisers. The company devoted to darkly funny, slightly absurd material that deals truthfully with the extraordinary in everyday circumstances. Since its inception in 2011 under Artistic Director Sari Caine and Managing Director David Rigo, Slightly Altered States has been the recipients of residencies at IRT, Space on Ryder Farm, Jimmy’s No. 43, and Manhattan Theater Source. For more information, visit www.slightlyaltered.org.
The Flea Theater, under Artistic Director Jim Simpson and Producing Director Carol Ostrow, is one of New York's leading off-off-Broadway companies. Winner of a Special Drama Desk Award for outstanding achievement, Obie Awards and an Otto for political theater, The Flea has presented over 100 plays and numerous dance and live music performances since its inception in 1996. Past productions include the premieres by Steven Banks, Thomas Bradshaw, Bathsheba Doran, Will Eno, Karen Finley, Amy Freed, Sean Graney, A.R. Gurney, Hamish Linklater, Anne Nelson, Qui Nguyen, Adam Rapp, Roger Rosenblatt, Elizabeth Swados, and Mac Wellman. Recent successes include Drama Desk winner The Mysteries; Drama Desk nominees She Kills Monsters, These Seven Sicknesses and Restoration Comedy; and eight world premieres by A.R. Gurney including the WSJ Best New Play of 2013, Family Furniture.
MR. LANDING TAKES A FALL runs September 12 - October 4 on the following schedule: Wednesdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 7pm and Sundays at 3pm with additional performances Sept. 22, 30 and Oct. 2 at 7pm. The Flea Theater is located at 41 White Street between Church and Broadway, three blocks south of Canal, close to the A/C/E, N/R/Q, 6, J/M/Z and 1 subway lines. Tickets are $18, available by calling 212-352-3101 or online at www.theflea.org.