From the Producers of FringeNYC The Present Company Presents
OSWALD’S BACKYARD
October 9 - 31 at Beckett Theater
The Present Company, producers of the New York International Fringe Festival (FringeNYC) present the World Premiere of Oswald’s Backyard, a new play inspired by the life of Lee Harvey Oswald. The play, written by Leslie Bramm, is the recipient of the 2001 Stanley Drama Award. Directed by Scott R. C. Levy , previews begin October 9th at Beckett Theater with opening night set for Tuesday, October 12th.
Oswald’s Backyard is set in September of 1963 in the backyard of a New Orleans home and inside the mind of Leo Oscar, a naive, petulant and ultimately violent young man. Leo, like many young Americans, searches for his own identity, struggles with idealism and obsesses with media and fame. The play explores the psychological landscape of a man driven to extremely desperate actions.
The ensemble features Drake Andrew, Elizabeth A. Bell, Joshua P. Gartland, Douglas Gowland, Mikki Jordan, and Matt Mullin, with set and costumes by Julie Renton and lighting design by Jonathan Spencer.
Mr. Leslie Bramm is the author of 12 plays which include The Hummingbird Play, Lovers Leapt, Island’s of Repair and A.B.C. He is the recipient of a Stanley Drama Award, Paul T. Nolan Literary Award and Tennessee Williams Literary Award. His play Real Beatlemaniacs received its first production at the 2002 Humana Festival at Actors Theatre of Louisville and was a finalist for the 2002 Heideman Award. He was also a finalist for the 2001 Edward Albee Last Frontier Theater Conference for his play Big Ball (or under blue suburban skies). He is a member of Three Crows Theatre and the Dramatists Guild.
The Present Company was founded in 1992 with a mission of inciting art, cultivating community, and creating new American plays. In 1997, The Present Company founded The New York International Fringe Festival, the largest multi-arts festival in North America. In addition to the festival, they have presented numerous acclaimed productions including Brian Parks’ Americana Absurdum, John Clancy’s The Paper Man, and Julia Barclay's Word To No One. From 1998 to 2002, they operated The Present Company Theatorium, an Off-Off Broadway venue on the Lower East Side that showcased works by artists including Richard Maxwell, Target Margin, Erica Schmidt, Tiny Ninja Theater, Todd Robbins and countless others.
Oswald’s Backyard runs October 9 - 31, Wednesday - Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm & 8pm, and Sunday at 3pm. Tickets are $20. Beckett Theater is located at 410 West 42nd Street (between 9th & 10th Avenues -- accessible from the A,C, E, N, R, 1, 2, 3 trains at 42nd Street). For tickets visit telecharge.com or 212-239-6200.