WHERE AND WHEN:
September 26 to October 13, 2024
Theater for the New City, 155 First Ave. (at E. 10th Street)
Thursdays through Saturdays at 8:00 PM, Sundays at 3:00 PM
$18 general admission, $15 seniors & students
Box office: www.theaterforthenewcity.net, (2120 254-1109
Running time: 2 hours.
Play's website: www.dickheadtheplay.com
Critics are invited on or after September 27. Opens September 28.
Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Ccjrwajs134giGB48

New York, August 12 -- "Dickhead" by Gil Kofman is a funny, chilling, dark, satirical, macabre play that explores the trials and tribulations of a family that embraces personal fantasies while besieged by technology and virtual reality. It's also a character study of its paterfamilias, an aggressive, abrasive corporate lawyer who specializes in metaverse issues by bluffing his way through the technology stuff. Theater for the New City will present the play's world premiere September 26 to October 13 directed by Richard Caliban, with a cast of six that includes O-B notables Ezra Barnes, Jodie Markell, Kai An Chee and Marcus Naylor.

The title character, a lawyer named Richard (often referred to as a dick), has forgotten the password to his bitcoin wallet where he has millions of dollars sitting just out of reach. Frustration turns to desperation as the virtual currency rises exponentially in value, as if mocking him. Blustering, conceited and contemptuous, he fitfully exhausts the numbers of guesses permitted to unlock his wallet. Sensing his impending loss, he grows more manic and abusive toward his lotto-addicted wife, Ruth, and toward his son’s family, who are temporarily bunking with him while their house is being cleared of toxic mold. His son, Bobby, writes unsalable screenplays. Bobby's wife, Darcy, a former school teacher, pruriently promotes herself on OnlyFans (a social network for exhibitionists). Their adolescent son, Junior, lives ensconced in a VR headset, immersed in his own fantasy world and oblivious to their outlandish misadventures.  But when Darcy's OnlyFans stalker appears in the flesh, it shatters the family’s perverse equilibrium.

The actors are Ezra Barnes (as Richard), Frank Licato (as Richard's shrink), Jodie Markell (as Richard's wife, Ruth), Wyatt Fenner (as Richard's grandson, Junior), Glen Feinstein (as Richard's son, Bobby), Kai An Chee (as Richard's daughter-in-law, Darcy) and Marcus Naylor (as Richard's law client, Howard). Set/lights/projection design is by Joey Moro. Costume design is by Olivia Hern. Stage manager is Grace Keith. Costume design is by Sara O'Donnell.

Gil Kofman (Playwright)  was born in Nigeria and raised in Kenya, Israel and NYC. He received an M.F.A. in playwriting from the Yale School of Drama. His play "American Magic," a dark political satire, was produced in NY, LA, and London with music by Lee Ranaldo from Sonic Youth and Richard Foreman playing the part of the President. It was later published by Broadway Play Publishing along with two other plays, "Interview" and "Pharmacopeia." Kofman is also known for three films: "The Memory Thief" won the Feature Award at the Edmonton Int'l Film Festival and played on the Sundance Channel. "Case Sensitive, "a thriller set in mainland China, developed at the Sundance Producer's Lab, was widely released in China and played on HBO Asia. "Lost in the White City" played at the Black Nights Film Festival and in other places around the world. His novel, "aKa" (2023) places Kafka into the 21st century by resurrecting him as a plague spirit of director Francis Krow living with his parents.

Richard Caliban (Director) has worked as a playwright, director and composer across the country and internationally. He was Artistic Director of critically acclaimed, award-winning Cucaracha Theatre in TriBeCa (“The most exciting experimental theater company in New York” - NY Times) where, in the course of 14 seasons, he wrote and directed many of his own works, staged plays by Mac Wellman, Jules Feiffer, Michael Weller and others, and mounted co-productions with The Public, The Vineyard and Classic Stage Company. His "Rodents & Radios" was on Mel Gussow’s (NY Times) Top 10 Plays of the year list. His "MoM - A Rock Concert Musical" won Outstanding Musical at the NY Fringe Festival and went on to runs at the Actor’s Playhouse, Geva Theatre and others. His directing resume also includes such notable productions as "Crowbar" by Mac Wellman at the Victory Theater (Obie and Outer Critics Circle awards) and "Lost Shanghai," which he co-wrote with Grammy nominated composer Angel Lam, at Merkin Hall. His work has also been seen at Primary Stages, Playwrights Horizons, Theatre Row, The Cherry Lane, Ensemble Studio Theatre, La Mama, HERE, Joyce Theatre, Naked Angels, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Denver Center Theater, Berkshire Theatre Festival, R.S.9 Theatre in Budapest and Ilkhom Theatre in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. This summer he staged "Leni’s Last Lament" by frequent collaborator Gil Kofman, starring Jodie Markell, at the Invisible Dog in Brooklyn and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. (https://richardcaliban.com/)

Ezra Barnes (Richard) has appeared OB in numerous prominent productions including "Breakfast With Mugabe" (Signature Center & Theatre Row, NY Times Critic’s Pick and Best Play nominee of the Off-Broadway Alliance), "Transparent Falsehood" (by Gil Kofman and directed by Richard Caliban at Ars Nova), "In White America" (New Federal Theatre), "English Bride" (59e59), "Far & Wide" (Mint) and "Richard II" (Pearl Theatre). He has appaeared regionally at Portland Stage (as Sherlock Holmes), Geva, McCarter, Hartford Stage, Cincinnati Playhouse, Denver Center, Pioneer and Paper Mill. His TV credits include "Group, "New Amsterdam," "Jessica Jones," Orange is the New Black," "Sinner," and "Law & Order, SVU." His films include "Motherless Brooklyn" and "Once More With Feeling." He directed "Diary of Anne Frank" at Playhouse on Park in West Hartford, CT, winning an Outstanding Director award from Connecticut Critics Circle. He is Founding Artistic Director of Shakespeare on the Sound and runs Brooklyn’s Young Actors Workshop.

Jodie Markell (Ruth) received an Obie for her performance in "Machinali" directed by Michael Greif at the Public Theater. Other New York theater credits includes "Snakebit" by David Marshall Grant, "Kimberly Akimbo" by David Lindsay-Abaire at Manhattan Theatre Club, "Balm in Gilead" directed by John Malkovich at Circle Rep, "Italian American Reconciliation directed by John Patrick Shanley at Manhattan Theatre Club, "Road" and "Ubu" at Lincoln Center, and "Easter" by Will Scheffer and "Clash by Night" by Odets, both directed by Richard Caliban at Naked Angels (company member). She has appeared regionally at Stepppenwolf, Williamstown and Mark Taper Forum. Her films include Woody Allen's "Hollywood Ending," Todd Haynes' "Safe," Jim Jarmusch’s "Mystery Train" and "The Dead Don't Die" and Barry Levinson’s "Jimmy Hollywood." Her TV credits include "Law and Order, SVU," "The Good Wife" and the recurring role of Wendy Hunt in the HBO series "Big Love." She directed the feature film of Tennessee Williams’ "The Loss of a Teardrop" starring Bryce Dallas Howard, Chris Evans and Ellen Burstyn. (www.jodiemarkell.com) 

Frank Licato (Richard's shrink) is Artistic Director of Hudson Theatre Works and the recipient of the Tanne Foundation Award for continued Artistic Excellence.  His OB credits include  "This is Not a Time of Peace" by Deb Margolin (Theatre Row), "Deathwatch" (NYTW,) "Angel City" (Kraine Theater), "Taming of the Shrew" (Theater for a New Audience), "Tallahassee" (Flea Theatre) and "Dawn" (59E59 Theater). His regional credits include "Judgement" (Best Actor, Boston Critics; Boston Shakespeare Co.) and "Jekyll and Hyde" (Best Actor, Boston Critics; Working Theatre). His films include  "Modern Houses," "Trackdown," "Out of the Darkness," "NY Cop," "Between the Lines," and "First Deadly Sin" with Frank Sinatra.  TV credits include "Third Watch," "100 Centre St," and "N.Y.P.D. Mounted." ( www.hudsontheatreworks.org)

Marcus Naylor (Howard) has appeared with New Federal Theatre, New Circle Theatre Company, Denver Center, Arena Stage, red house Arts Center, Shakespeare on the Sound, Shakespeare Theatre Company DC, Kennedy Center, Primary Stages, Ensemble Studio, Penumbra and The Actors Studio. On-camera credits include "For Life," "Madam Secretary," "Bull," "Boardwalk Empire," "Law and Order franchise,” "Only in America," "The Meeting,” Color of Love," "Slings and Arrows" (Black Starz), "Malcolm X," and " Jazz Fantasy; Miles, Bird and Trane."

Kai An Chee (Darcy) is a Malaysian-Chinese actor and musician. Her stage credits include "Miss Saigon" (Kim Alternate/Gigi u/s), "Mr. Holland's Opus" (Ogunquit Playhouse), "Lizard Boy" (O-B) and workshops of "Farewell My Concubine" by Jason Robert Brown and "American Eclipse" by Michael John LaChiusa. Her screen credits include "FBI: Most Wanted," "That Damn Michael Che" and "Olga Dies Dreaming." (www.kaianchee.com)

Wyatt Fenner (Richard's grandson, Junior) previously appeared in Gil Kofman’s  “Transparent Falsehood,” directed by Richard Caliban.  Onstage Wyatt has collaborated with Terrence McNally, Michael Kahn, Moises Kaufman, Darko Tresnjak, Steve Yockey, among many others. His on-camera credits include the Emmy-winning Amazon series “After Forever.” He is a graduate of the University of Southern California’s BFA Acting Program.

Glen Feinstein (Richard's son, Bobby) is a New York based actor, active in theater, film, TV, and voice overs. He  is known for "The Freezer" (2014), "Yu-Gi-Oh! Sevens" (2020) and "Louie" (2010).

Playwright Gil Kofman writes, "TNC and Crystal Field have been a formative part of my theater life since they first moved to 155 1st Ave.  At the time, over 30 years ago, I helped them clean this newly acquired space by wielding a small sledge hammer to remove a cinderblock wall; in return Crystal and TNC rewarded this young playwright, me, with an opportunity to stage and hear one of the plays I’d written.   TNC has always been there for the community in this active generous way, a heart pulsing with inspiration; the work they perform is at once bold, engaging and necessary."

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CRITICS ARE INVITED on or after September 27. Opens September 28.
PHOTOS: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Ccjrwajs134giGB48