THE ACTION AGAINST SOL SCHUMANN
June 17 - July 11 at Hypothetical Theatre

"an unusually thoughtful and provocative script, rich in drama" -- Chicago Tribune

"a powerful play" -- Indianapolis Star

"a thoughtful, incisive and rewarding evening of theatre" -- Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Hypothetical Theatre Company will present the New York Premiere of the 2002 American Theatre Critics Association Award winning THE ACTION AGAINST SOL SCHUMANN by Jeffrey Sweet. Directed by Amy Feinberg (who also directed the Atlanta premiere at The Jewish Theatre of the South), the cast of 11 stars Tandy Cronyn, Herb Rubens (Band in Berlin, 45 Seconds From Broadway) and Susan O’Connor. Performances begin June 17th at The 14th Street Y with opening night set for Saturday, June 19th.

Set in Brooklyn in 1985, THE ACTION AGAINST SOL SCHUMANN centers on Sol, an aging New York Jew and Holocaust survivor. Loved and admired by all, he's a warm-hearted pillar of his orthodox synogogue and devoted father to two adult sons. When Sol is accused of unspeakable crimes he allegedly committed many years earlier, his estranged sons must navigate through a maze of legal, personal, and moral issues surrounding the sins of their father.

Filled with surprising twists and turns, the play is loosely based on the real life story of Jacob Tannenbaum, a Brooklynite whose 1985 war crimes trial made headlines internationally. Sweet originally wrote the story as a screenplay, but expanded it into a full-length play in spring 2001.

The cast features Douglas Dickerman, Nathan M. White, Herbert Rubens, Kim Donovan, Catherine Lynn Dowling, Postell Pringle, Susan O'Connor, Jerry Rockwood, Bruce Mohat, Margaret A. Flanagan and Tandy Cronyn with sets by Mark Symczak, costumes by Chris Leoni, sound by Tim Cramer, and lighting by Randy Glickman.

Jeffrey Sweet is the recipient of 1983-1984 Outer Critics Circle Award (Best Book for What About Luv?) and two American Theatre Critics Association Awards. His plays include American Enterprise, Ties, Holding Patterns, Sent a Letter to My Love (with composer Melissa Manchester), Stops Along the Way, and The Value of Names. His plays have been presented at Primary Stages, Vineyard Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Arena Stage, Victory Gardens Theatre in Chicago, Cleveland Playhouse, and Hartford Stage. He has also been nominated for an additional Outer Critics Circle award, two Joseph Jefferson Awards, five American Theatre Critics Association Awards, and two Emmy Awards. He served as co-editor of Best Plays from 1985 to 1996. Sweet is currently working on an arts exchange program between Victory Gardens Theater and Hypothetical. In March 2005 his new play Berlin 45 will premiere in Chicago and Jack Klugman will star in an Off-Broadway revival of The Value of Names.

The Hypothetical Theatre Company is a not-for-profit professional producing company in residence at the 14th Street Y. Past productions include Michael Weller's Ghost on Fire, Buying Time and The Heart of Art, Hunt Holman's The Gun Club, Quake by Melanie Marnich, Detail of a Larger Work by Lisa Dillman (ranked in the top five shows of 1998 by Theatre Scope Magazine), Mickey's Home by Stephen Fife, and Michael McKeever's The Garden of Hannah List (winner of the 1998 Carbonell Award).

THE ACTION AGAINST SOL SCHUMANN runs June 16 - July 11, Thurs. at 7pm, Fri. & Sat. at 8pm and Sun. at 3pm with an additional performance Mon., June 21 at 7pm. (Note: there is no performance on July 4th). The 14th Street Y is located at 344 East 14th Street (between 1st & 2nd Aves. -- accessible from the L train at 14th Street). Tickets are $15 in advance through Smarttix and $19 at the door. For reservations call 212-868-4444 or visit smarttix.com.