Brett Singer & Associates, LLC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PLEASE

PRESS CONTACT: Brett Singer (212)307-7181

Audax Theatre Group to Present

FRANKIE

A new, dark comedy by Daniel Roberts

Directed by Alex Lippard

Performances Begin Thursday, March 31st; Opening Night Saturday, April 2nd

At The Irish Arts Center (553 W. 51st Street)

Audax Theater Group will present Daniel Roberts’ new play Frankie, a dark comedy about a suicide bombing set in Southern New Jersey.  Performances will be at The Irish Arts Center (553 W. 51st Street between 10th and 11th avenues), and will begin on Thursday, March 31st for a Saturday, April 2nd opening.

Frankie tells the story of the title character, a soft-brained, overweight man-boy with limited ambitions beyond playing video games and eating Skittles. While working at a dead-end job at Superfeast, New Jersey’s largest grocery store, he is drawn in to a dangerous and deadly plan to blow up the store. Frankie’s boss, Mr. Angelini, is a self-styled genius who is disgusted with the US Government.  With the help of Frankie’s beautiful but haunted co-worker Virginia, Mr. Angelini promises the young man a night of unconditional pleasure and a place in paradise if only he'll strap twenty-two pounds of explosives to his torso and fulfill Mr. Angelini's dream of blowing up Superfeast.

The author of Frankie is Daniel Roberts, who is also Audax’s founder.  His last play, Brando, was very well-received by Time Out New York (“an impressive piece of writing…recalls Edward Albee and John Guare”), CurtainUp (“Robert’s play has a lot of great writing”), and other publications.  Audax was founded in 2000 by Mr. Roberts and Daniel Tisman, both veterans of the 24-Hour Play Festival; “Audax” is the Latin word for “bold”.  The company has since presented three shows: the 2001 OOBR award-winning The Beginning of the And, 2002’s Last Day, and 2003’s Brando, all written by Mr. Roberts.

The director of Frankie will be Alex Lippard, a young up-and-coming director whose credits include Hecuba with Kristin Linklater, and Moonchild with Heather Tom.  Mr. Lippard was awarded “Best Director” at last year’s New York Fringe Festival.  The cast for Frankie will feature Andrea Gallo, Davis Hall, Aaron Munoz, Kristina Klebe, and Anthony Patellis.  Ms. Klebe will appear this season on “Rescue Me” with Denis Leary; Mr. Patellis has appeared on “The Sopranos”.

Frankie will begin performances on Thursday, March 31st and will continue through Saturday, April 30th.  Opening night is scheduled for Saturday, April 2nd.  The schedule will be Thursdays through Saturdays at 8:00pm.  Tickets will be $15 and may be purchased by calling Smarttix at (212) 868-4444, or online at www.audaxtheatre.org.  Photos will be available for download at www.brettsinger.com/clients/frankie.html.

Frankie

Written by Daniel Roberts, Directed by Alex Lippard

At The Irish Arts Center (553 W. 51st Street, between 10th and 11th avenues)

SCHEDULE: Thursdays through Saturdays at 8:00pm

Previews begin Thursday, March 31st

Opening Night: Saturday, April 2nd

Through Saturday, April 30th

TICKETS: $15.00; Call (212) 868-4444 or visit www.audaxtheatre.org

311 West 43rd Street Suite #1107                                                              phone:             (212)307-7181

New York, NY 10036                                                                                            Fax:               (212)307-7167