R+J Opens Tonight at Paradise Factory

Tickets are now on sale for R+J, the new play offering a contemporary continuation of William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet. The play, written by internationally produced playwright Erin Breznitsky and directed by New York Madness Directing Company Head Roxy MtJoy, runs at The Paradise Factory (64 E 4th St) now through November 23.

When two suicidal young lovers find themselves thrust together in the afterlife, they think they've finally reached "happily ever after." But before they can transform their monumental passion into a love that can stand the test of time, the couple must reconcile the echoes of past mistakes that return to haunt them. Simultaneously humorous and heartbreaking, R+J tells a tale of love, loss, youth, and innocence through a contemporary exploration of one of the most infamous romances of all time.

R+J (pronounced "R Plus J") will be performed tonight, November 20 at 7pm; Friday, November 21 at 8pm; Saturday, November 22 at 2pm & 8pm; and Sunday, November 23 at 2pm. A special preview performance will be offered on Wednesday, November 19 for Sarah Lawrence College students and faculty.

Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 (cash only) at the door and may be purchased at www.rplusjplay.com.

R+J is an Equity Approved Showcase featuring the talents of Greg Brostrom*, Tim Dowd, Youn Jung Kim, Thomas Leverton*, Rita McCann, Kelsey Monson, Conor Stratton, Malka Wallick, and Brenna Yeary*. (*appearing courtesy of Actors' Equity Association) The design team includes Kate Pincus-Whitney (set), Emily Winokur (costumes), Jake Fine (lighting), Anna Libbie Grossman (sound), and Emma Lipschutz (fight choreography). The stage manager for the production is Thomas Wood.

Erin Breznitsky is an internationally produced playwright whose work was most recently seen in NYC in last month's New York Madness "Worst Summer Ever" with featured guest Vanessa Hidary. Her most recent play, The Kitchen Table Plays, was produced at at the 2013 New York International Fringe Festival and the English Theatre of Rome. She is the recipient of the Lipkin Prize for Playwriting and a full scholarship to the La MaMa International Playwrights Retreat in Spoleto, Italy. MFA, Theatre, Sarah Lawrence College.

Roxy MtJoy's work has been seen at Cherry Lane, The New OHIO, Hollywood Fight Club Theatre, SLUT unMUTE Festival, Florida Studio Theatre, MITF, Second Stage, EstroGenius Festival, and the National Museum for Women in the Arts, among others. She is the head of the New York Madness Directing Company and an alum of the Upright Citizen's Brigade (Los Angeles). She was a finalist for the Director's League Fellowship and the Manhattan Theatre Club Directing Fellowship. BA, Theatre, Randolph-Macon Woman's College; MFA, Theatre, Sarah Lawrence College.