Wagner College Theatre’s Stage One studio theater presents the Staten Island debut of “The Thugs,” the Obie Award-winning play by Adam Bock, from Oct. 7 through 12. Wagner Theatre professor David Ledoux (WCT’s “Scab”) returns to direct.
“The Thugs” is a dark comedy about work, thunder and the mysterious things that are happening on the 9th floor of a big law firm. When a group of temp workers try to discover the secrets that lurk in the hidden crevices of their workplace, they realize they would rather believe in gossip and rumors than face dangerous realities.
The cast features performance theater majors Bobbi Barricella (Daphne), Taylor Baskin (Diane), Noah Bridgestock (Joey), Rachel Nace (Mary), Jasmine Canziani (Mercedes), Samantha Ross (Chantal), Maria Elena Rumayor (Elaine) and Chris Zika (Bart).
The creative team includes Shawn Riley-Rau (set), Dominga Noe (costumes), Pam Pangaro (lights) and Brad Cashman (sound). Nina Weber is production stage manager.
“The Thugs” received its critically acclaimed 2006 world premiere at the Soho Rep in New York, winning an Obie Award for outstanding playwriting and a spot on Time Out New York’s “Top Ten” list. The New York Times raved, “ ‘The Thugs’ is a delightfully paranoid little nightmare that is both more chillingly realistic and pointedly absurd than anything John Grisham ever dreamed up!” Bock won the prestigious American Theater Critics Award, the Glickman Award and the Theater Critics Circle Awards for Best Original Script for “The Thugs.”
Canadian playwright Adam Bock’s other work includes “Phaedra,” “A Small Fire” (which starred WCT’s Michele Pawk), “The Receptionist,” “The Drunken City,” “Swimming in the Shallows” and the musical adaptation of Shirley Jackson’s “We Have Always Lived in the Castle.” His plays have been produced in New York City at Playwrights Horizons, Manhattan Theatre Club, Second Stage, Soho Rep and Clubbed Thumb. “The Colby Sisters” was developed at Sundance/Utah and at New Dramatists.
Performances of “The Thugs” are Tuesday through Saturday at 8 p.m., with matinees Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. For tickets call (718) 390-3259 or email boxoffice@wagner.edu. Wagner College Theatre box office hours are Monday through Friday, 12 to 4 p.m. Single tickets ($10) are on sale now for “The Thugs.” Wagner College students attend free with current ID.
