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One Arm
The New Group and Tectonic Theater Project Present An Unproduced Play by Tennessee Williams.
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Based on the 1948 short story and screenplay written by Tennessee Williams, One Arm tells the story of a boxing champ’s fall, after an accident takes one of his arms. Ollie was once known as the “lightning in leather” but his promising boxing career is cut tragically short. He turns to hustling for a living and must make his way through a sleazy underworld of the late 1960s. The play chronicles Ollie’s encounters with strangers as he slips into emotional isolation and is eventually pushed to violence.
Moisés Kaufman and the Tectonic Theater Project adapted the story to make it suitable for stage over the course of ten years. In 2004 Tectonic staged readings in collaboration with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company and the About Face Theatre in Chicago, New York City and Georgetown University hosted the readings in 2010.
Kaufman is the director of One Arm, with Claybourne Elder playing Ollie. Elder’s past credits include Clifford Bradshaw’s Cabaret and Buck Barrow’s Bonnie and Clyde. Kaufman’s 33 Variations was nominated for five Tony awards. His play Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo is currently on Broadway starring Robin Williams.
Tectonic Theater Project was created in 1991 by Kaufman and Jeffrey LaHoste, dedicated to pushing the boundaries of theatrical language and form. The company has a unique approach to its productions, encouraging members to contribute in ways outside their specialization. Past works of Tectonic include The Laramie Project, Gross Indecency: The Three Trials Of Oscar Wilde and I Am My Own Wife.
The New Group is headed by Artistic Director, Scott Elliott and Executive Director, Geoff Rich. It began the 2010-2011 season with Tommy Nohilly’s Blood From a Stone and a revival of Wallace Shawn’s Marie and Bruce, starring Marisa Tomei and Frank Whaley. The company and Elliott have been cited by Drama Desk 2010-2011 with a Special Award for presenting contemporary new voices, and for uncompromisingly raw and powerful productions.
Ticket info here.