Rattlestick Playwrights Theater to Present LA Premiere of SLIPPING, 4/6-5/5

The Los Angeles Premiere of Slipping will begin on Saturday, April 6, and run through Sunday, May 5, 2013, as Rattlestick Playwrights Theater's first LA production. The show will play Elephant Stage's Lillian Theatre, 1076 Lillian Way in Los Angeles, Calif.

Slipping follows the emotional trajectory of 17-year old Eli, after the violent suicide of his beloved father. Alone, numb, and friendless after this tragedy, the jaded high-school senior moves with his English professor mom from San Francisco to a fresh start in Iowa. A new relationship with a boy at school exposes Eli again to the possibility of closeness and the danger of being swallowed by it. Written and directed by Daniel Talbott.

CAST:
• Eli - Seth Numrich (Golden Boy, War Horse, The Merchant of Venice on Broadway; Iphigenia at Signature; the New York production of Slipping)
• Jake - MacLeod Andrews (Slipping in New York; Too Much Memory at piece by piece/Rising Phoenix Rep)
• Chris - Max Hamilton (professional stage debut; UCLA productions of RENT and Neon Boneyard)
• Jan - Wendy vanden Heuvel (Resurrection Blues by Arthur Miller at the Guthrie Theater; Counting The Ways/Talk To Me Like the Rain... at the Magic Theater; A Movie Star Has To Star in Black and White at Signature)

Slipping was originally workshopped and developed at The Royal Court Theatre and Rattlestick. It was given its world premiere in Chicago by The Side Project, directed by Adam Webster. In New York, the play premiered at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater under the direction of Kirsten Kelly. The New York production of Slipping was named one of the top ten plays of 2009 by The Advocate.

The limited Los Angeles engagement opens Saturday, April 6, 2013 and closes on Sunday, May 5, 2013 with performances running Thursdays through Sundays.
• Previews - Thursday, April 4 & Friday, April 5
• Opening Night - Saturday, April 6
• Closing Night - Sunday, May 5

Ticket prices will vary up to $34, with discounts available for theater artists, students and seniors. Advance ticketing will be available online through http://rattlestick.org starting in February.

Based in New York's West Village, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater presents diverse, challenging, and often controversial plays that otherwise might not be produced, in order to foster the future of American theater. The multi-award-winning company is the recipient of the 2007 Ross Wetzsteon Memorial OBIE Award, which recognized the organization for its work and mission: developing and producing innovative new plays.

Well-known as one of the edgiest Off-Broadway venues, Rattlestick is a playwrights' theater, which seeks out unique voices and excellence in the craft. The organization's focus is on getting bold new works up and out to the public. Rattlestick is interested in stories that are edgy, human and honest. While not everyone will always like the plays, at a minimum, audiences will be provoked to think. Rattlestick seeks out writers who are working ambitiously and fearlessly for their art. By guaranteeing a second production, Rattlestick gives its playwrights permission to take chances and, potentially, even to fail. In creating an atmosphere that fosters risk-taking, Rattlestick encourages playwrights to challenge themselves to realize their full creative potential.

With a core operational focus of launching mainstage Off-Broadway productions, Rattlestick has produced over 60 world premieres in the past 17 seasons. Now in its 18th season, Rattlestick continues to introduce new writers. Playwright and artist mentors have included Edward Albee, Jon Robin Baitz, Zoe Caldwell, Arthur Kopit, Craig Lucas, Joe Mantello, Terrence McNally, Marsha Norman, and Adam Rapp. Highly acclaimed past productions include: Volunteer Man (OBIE Award), Saved or Destroyed (OBIE Award), Faster, The Last Sunday in June (GLAAD Award nomination), The Pavilion (Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Play of 2005) God Hates The Irish: The Ballad of Armless Johnny (Drama Desk Award nomination), Lady (Drama Desk Award nomination), That Pretty Pretty; Or, The Rape Play, The Amish Project, Slipping, Killers and Other Family, Post No Bills, and The Aliens (OBIE Award).

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