Off-Broadway NYC Debut Set for Clayton Professor's Play 'Falling'

The new drama Falling by theater Professor Deanna Jent of in Clayton will debut off-Broadway next month at the Minetta Lane Theater in New York City, a news release issued this week states. It follows an 18-year-old with autism named Josh as his family adapts to a visit from a relative.

Jent is artistic director of Fontbonne's . She previously adapted novels such as Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and by C.S. Lewis for the stage, the release states. She received a 2012 Kevin Kline Award for Best New Play and previously won a Kevin Kline Award for Best Director of a Musical for her Godspell production.

Lori Adams will direct the play, which will be produced by Terry Schnuck, James and Catherine Berges, Crystal Beuerlein and Michael F. Neidorff.

Falling will star Daniel Everidge, Celia Howard, Daniel Pearce, Jacey Powers and Julia Murney. Biographies from the news release are posted below.

The play's open-ended run begins at 7 p.m. Sept. 27 at Minetta Lane Theater, 18 Minetta Lane. The theater is located one block south of West 3rd Street near Sixth Avenue. Subsequent performances will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday and at 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Matinees will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday and at 3 p.m. Sunday.

Opening night is planned Oct. 15. There will be no performance the following day.

Tickets begin at $39.50 and may be purchased by going to TicketMaster.com or by calling 800-982-2787. More information is available by going to FallingPlay.com, liking Falling Play on Facebook or following Falling Play on Twitter.

The following biographies are taken from the Falling news release:

DANIEL EVERIDGE (Josh) hails from San Antonio, TX and is honored to be a member of this company! Broadway: Grease (Roger, original Broadway revival cast). Off-Broadway: Fat Camp (Robert Grisetti). Regional: Camelot, HMS Pinafore (Utah Shakespearean Festival). Film: Inside Llewyn Davis (dir. Joel and Ethan Coen). North East School of the Arts graduate. BFA Otterbein University. OFA.Never ending thanks to his friends, loving family, and Molly.

CELIA HOWARD (Grammy Sue) is delighted to be in Falling.  She has been seen at regional theatres throughout the country and Off-Broadway at the Signature Theatre Company, among others.  Some of the favorite roles are Mag in Beauty Queen of Leenane, Gertrude in Hamlet, Dotty in Noises Off, Helen in Road to Mecca, the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet, Judith in Hay Fever, and Amanda in Glass Menagerie.

JULIA MURNEY (Tami) last appeared on Broadway as Elphaba in Wicked after playing the role on the national tour for which she received an Acclaim Award.  Other NY credits include Lennon, Andrew Lippa’s The Wild Party (Drama Desk nomination), The VaginaMonologues, A Class Act, Saved, Crimes of the Heart, Queen of the Mist, Closer Than Ever, and Time and Again (Lucille Lortel nomination). She’s been seen regionally all over the US - Signature, Williamstown, Reprise!LA, Sacramento Music Circus, NCT, Lyric, Rubicon and Goodspeed, to name a few.

In concert she has performed at Joe’s Pub, Feinstein’s, The Kennedy Center, Caramoor, Town Hall and Birdland as well as with the Philly, Cincinnati, and Boston Pops.  Among her TV credits are “30 Rock,” “Sex and the City,” “Brothers and Sisters,” “Ed,” “NYPD Blue,” all three “Law and Orders” and about a gazillion voiceovers.  A Syracuse University graduate, her recordings include the original cast albums of The Wild Party and A Class Act, the Grammy nominated Actor’s Fund Benefit of Hair and her first solo album, I’m Not Waiting which is available on Sh-K-Boom records and at juliamurney.com.

DANIEL PEARCE (Bill) most recently played Simon Craig in the west coast premiere of Blood & Gifts at La Jolla Playhouse. Broadway: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Circle in the Square). Off-Broadway: Passion Play (Epic), King Lear, Measure for Measure, Henry V, Henry VI (NYSF/Public), The Picture of Dorian Gray (Irish Repertory), A Mother, a Daughter, and a Gun (New World Stages), Love’s Fire (Public), Romeo and Juliet (New Victory). Regional: Long Wharf, McCarter, New York Stage and Film, Chautauqua Theatre Company, Shakespeare Theatre DC, Guthrie, and Geva among others. Film/TV: Salt, An Invisible Sign, Clowns, Godzilla, “Law and Order: All Flavors,” “Queens Supreme,” “Chapelle’s Show.” He plays slide blues guitar.

JACEY POWERS (Lisa) was seen Off-Broadway in David Cromer’s Our Town (Barrow Street Theatre), as well as The Shanghai Gesture (Julia Miles), Pinkalicious (Soho Playhouse), and Picking Up (DR2). Other NYC: Sitting Pretty, About Face (NYMF), Cheer Wars, Do Black Patent Leather…Up?, and Into the Woods.  Regionally: Band Geeks! (Goodspeed), The Fantasticks, Seussical, and many more.  BFA from Tisch/NYU.  Thanks to my loving parents and sister Joy who taught me everything about everything.

More about Deanna Jent's plays on Patch: