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ITHACA, NY: After Ashley is a darkly comedic play that has audiences laughing at one moment and horrified at the next. How do we respond to tragedy that leaves us speechless? How do we continue to survive when a part of us dies? In a play that is both heartbreaking drama and scathing social satire, playwright Gina Gionfriddo takes these questions head-on in her arrestingly powerful and award –winning play.

Three years ago, a family tragedy shattered teenage Justin Hammond’s (Karl Gregory) world, sending him spiraling downward. His father, Alden, (Greg Bostwick) responds by writing a tell-all bestseller that causes a media frenzy. Justin’s 911 call has been sampled in a rap song and now both he and his father are sharing the limelight (unwelcome for Justin and sought after by Alden). Now seventeen, Justin has grown callous not only toward his father, but toward anyone who tries to get close.

Father and son’s newfound celebrity finds them thrust further into the spotlight when television producer David Gavin (Alexander Thomas) offers Alden the opportunity to host a new true-crime TV talk show. Meanwhile, Justin meets Julie (Emily Ranii), a college student who recognizes his unwanted media persona and becomes a comrade in his rebellion against a society of confessional books, televised crime reenactments, and the consumerism of personal tragedy. They enlist the help of Roderick (Dan Kiely) and set out to expose the truth and right the wrong.
In the burgeoning genre of post-9/11 theatre, After Ashley could easily be considered required viewing. Gionfriddo sets her play in an America that has experienced the terror of attacks with massive amounts of media disclosure but no real understanding of how to process the tragedy.

Playwright Gionfriddo fills her text with unexpected humor. And, happily the cast, led by Kitchen favorite Karl Gregory (SantaLand Diaries, Fully Committed among others) and directed by Sturgis Warner, puts the sharp-edged and honest language at the center of this production, keeping the twists and turns as unanticipated as the belly laughs.

After Ashley is the fifth of seven productions in the Kitchen Theatre Company’s 2006-07 16th Season. After Ashley is designed by Solomon Weisbard (set and lights), Don Tindall (sound) and Hannah Kochman (costumes). This is guest director Sturgis Warner’s first production at the Kitchen Theatre. A NYC-based director who specializes in new plays, he has directed at New York Theatre Workshop, New Jersey Rep, Abingdon Theatre Company, Actor's Theatre of Louisville, and many others.

The cast includes Karl Gregory with Greg Bostwick (The Price, Comfort Food among others), Alexander Thomas* (Black Stuff, Throw Pitchfork) and making their Kitchen Theatre Main Stage debuts Dan Kiely, Emily Ranii and NYC-based Denise Cormier*. (*Members of Actors Equity Association).

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