The Black Box and SoHo Playhouse present the Off-Broadway premiere of Eric Bogosian's
1+1
WHEN: February 23 through March 19
WHERE: SoHo Playhouse (15 Vandam Street,
NY, NY 10013)
TICKETS: on sale at SoHoPlayhouse.com
This riveting
three-hander — which was originally developed at Powerhouse/New York Stage and Film in 2008, first produced at The Black Box in Englewood, NJ in 2021, and
headlined NYC's Chain Play Festival in July 2022 — explores how a modern woman
can still rise and fall at the whim of the men in her life. In 1+1, an
unsuspecting aspiring actress in Los Angeles makes a seemingly innocent choice
that lures her into the lucrative world of internet porn, and her fate seems
caught between the two men who couldn't seem more opposite yet might have more
in common than first meets the eye...
"Though the
piece seems to be about internet porn and one victim in particular, what I
wanted to get at was a deeper examination of responsibility when two
people share blame over bad actions," says Mr. Bogosian, whose first time
back in a theater after a year and a half was for his own play at The Black Box
in Fall '21. "What I want is for the audience to ponder this particular
set of circumstances through the eyes of the three characters. I want the
audience to be intrigued and drawn in by what they see onstage."
Eric Bogosian is known for his six solo works produced Off-Broadway between 1980 and 2000 (three Obie Awards, Drama Desk) and his play, Talk Radio (nominated for Pulitzer Prize and for the 2007 revival, the Tony award). For Oliver Stone's film adaptation of Talk Radio (in which he starred), Bogosian received the Berlin Film Festival Silver Bear. In 1994, Lincoln Center Theater produced his play subUrbia and the revival was staged at Second Stage in 2006. In 2010, he starred in Donald Margulies’ Broadway production of Time Stands Still alongside Laura Linney, Brian Darcy James, Alicia Silverstone and Christina Ricci. In addition, Bogosian is the author of three novels as well as numerous plays produced outside New York City. In 2015, Little, Brown published his non-fiction of an Armenian assassination team, Operation Nemesis. Bogosian is also known for his work as an actor, currently seen in the television series Law & Order, Billions, Succession, and Interview with The Vampire. In 2019, he played "Arno" in the hit film Uncut Gems. Bogosian lives in New York with his wife, stage director Jo Bonney.
1+1 features Michael Gardiner,
Katie North, and Daniel Yaiullo reprising their roles, along with understudy
Danielle MacMath. The Production Designer/SM is Ilana Schimmel and Director is
Matt Okin.
Black Box's
production has been praised as "a lustrous work of art" (BroadwayWorld
[broadwayworld.com]) and "well-acted, thought-provoking and uncompromisingly
dark... Bogosian explores some big themes throughout 1+1. And this
production... does the play justice" (NJ Arts [njarts.net]). It was featured on
Theater Scene's Top 10 List of 2022, "due to Mr. Bogosian's jolting
dialogue, command of narrative and humane depictions of his archetypal
characters, tha all make this underside of show business premise fresh... With
this searing production, 1+1 is a welcome opportunity to experience Eric
Bogosian's distinctive talent as a playwright" (TheaterScene [theaterscene.org]).
The Black Box, a 501c3 nonprofit organization, is based in Northern New Jersey. The collaborative group of artists pivoted during the pandemic and the organization has become the area's prime incubator for new and under produced works by world-class playwrights. Following Eric Bogosian's 1+1, The Black Box 2022 season included The Cleopatra Club by legendary filmmaker Paul Schrader, Ode to Joy by Broadway's Craig Lucas, and the premiere production of Exposed by Beth Henley. Black Box's 2023 season will incubate works by Nicky Silver, Daniel Handler, Migdalia Cruz, Ken Levine, Halley Feiffer, John Lahr, and more to be announced. Works in collaboration with the Estates of Sam Shepard, Edward Albee, and I.B. Singer are also in the mix. For more information on Black Box, including collaborative performing arts classes through Black Box Studios (innovative theater education since 2007) and Shakespeare in the Park Bergen County (five summers of free shows in Northern, NJ), please visit www.BlackBoxPAC.com [blackboxpac.com]
SoHo Playhouse (Darren Lee Cole, Artistic Director) has been one of Off Broadway’s primary venues for new plays for the past 80 years. Formerly “Vandam Playhouse” the theatre has been home to countless dreams and movements. Many actors, directors, choreographers, production designers, theatre managers, technicians, and producers all received their start at SoHo Playhouse. Several of America’s leading writers have premiered their work at 15 Vandam Street including Sam Shepard, Edward Albee, Tracy Letts, Charles Buch, Leroi Jones and Lanford Wilson. Award winning shows have included: “The Boys in the Band”, “Killer Joe”, “The Divine Sister”, “Krapp, 39”, “Piaf”, “Room Service”, “Jamaica Farewell”, “Belly of a Drunken Piano”, “Bukowski From Beyond”, “The Emperor Jones”, “Triassic Parq”, “Rap Guide To Climate Chaos””, “The Other Josh Cohen”, “Bill W and Dr Bob”, “Bright Colors And Bold Patterns”, “Josephine: A Burlesque Cabaret Dream Play”, “Tammany Hall”, Hannah Gadsby, Fleabag and TJ & Dave. The Playhouse has also proudly served as home to the Fringe Encore Series since 2005. Mr. Cole has served as Artistic Director since 2004