Steven Culp in "Handjob"

written by Erik Patterson

directed by Chris Fields

featuring: Steven Culp, Tamarra Graham, Stephen Guarino, Ryan Nealy, Michael Rishawn

Scenic Design: Amanda Knehans
Lighting Design: Jared A. Sayeg
Sound Design: Jeff Gardner
Costume Design: Ann Closs-Farley
Intimacy Coach: Benjamon Toubia
Graphic Design: Christopher Komuro
Casting Director: Meg Fister
Production Stage Manager: Rebecca Schoenberg
Associate Producer: Ariel Labasan
Producers: Chris Fields and Rachael Zambias

Previews begin September 4th. Opening September 7th. Tickets on sale now!

All previews and Monday nights are paywhatyouwill!

https://dime.io/events/hand-job

Handjob

by Erik Patterson
directed by Chris Fields

Previews: September 4,5,6 Opens: September 7 Closes: October 20
Buy Tickets

HANDJOB explores the misogyny, homophobia, and racism that bubble to the surface during an encounter between a gay writer and a man he hires to work as a "shirtless cleaner." This darkly funny and disturbing play takes a look at what happens when the artist's vision is blind to the deepest sensitivities in our culture, with unexpected consequences…

World Premiere

Erik Patterson's play One of the Nice Ones recently won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Playwriting. Other plays include Yellow Flesh/Alabaster Rose, Red Light Green Light, He Asked For It, Sick, and Hand job. His plays have been produced by Playwrights' Arena, the Los Angeles Theatre Center, Theatre of NOTE, Evidence Room, The Actors' Gang, and the Echo Theater Company, as well as developed through the Lark Play Development Center, Moving Arts, Black Dahlia, Naked Angels, and the Mark Taper Forum. With his screenwriting partner Jessica Scott, Erik has written projects for Castle Rock, Warner Bros., Warner Horizon, Universal, ABC Family, and Disney, to name a few. He has been nominated for three Ovation Awards, the LA Weekly Award, the GLAAD Award, and two Emmy Awards. He is the recipient of the Humanitas Prize and the WGA Award. Erik is a graduate of Occidental College and the British American Drama Academy.

When a gay writer hires a man to work as a "shirtless cleaner," homophobia, racism and issues of consent bubble to the surface. This outrageous comedy will leave you gasping with shock and laughter as it explores the deepest sensitivities in our culture — with hilarious consequences. (The hilarity is recommended for mature audiences: graphic adult content including male nudity).

An encounter between a white, gay playwright and his black, straight "shirtless maid" goes disastrously wrong when signals are misinterpreted, lines crossed. Hand Job explores the aftermath of their meeting, as it reveals deep layers of discrimination, discord, and discontent among people who should be on the same side. How do you know when you've gone too far if no one can agree where the boundaries should be?

This is the world premiere of Hand Job. Erik Patterson's play One of the Nice Ones recently won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Playwriting. He has been nominated for three Ovation Awards, the LA Weekly Award, the GLAAD Award, and two Emmy Awards. He is the recipient of the Humanitas Prize and the WGA Award. Erik is a graduate of Occidental College and the British American Drama Academy.

Various issues arise when a gay writer hires a man to work as a “shirtless cleaner” in the premiere of Erik Patterson’s dark comedy; includes adult content, male nudity. Echo Theater Company, Atwater Village Theatre, 3269 Casitas Ave., L.A. Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 4 p.m.; ends Oct. 21. $34; Mondays, $20 in advance, pay what you want at the door. (310) 307-3753. EchoTheaterCompany.com

The #MeToo movement has primarily focused on the inappropriate behavior of men towards women. Though people like Kevin Spacey and Bryan Singer have found themselves facing serious allegations, there has been significantly less attention on inappropriate behavior from men towards other men. Playwright Erik Patterson explores the idea of boundaries in his new dark comedy entitled Handjob. The play has its world premiere when it officially opens on Saturday in this production from the Echo Theatre Company at the Atwater Village Theatre.

In Handjob, a young man is hired by a gay writer to be his shirtless cleaner. Problems of homophobia, racism and a lead character who consistently makes all the wrong choices, make Patterson’s play thoroughly topical. Interestingly Patterson was inspired to write the play after hiring just such a cleaner.

In the press release for the show, Patterson says, "The play poses difficult questions. In art and life, how far is too far? What taboos still exist? How can we make a moment of intimacy even more bare, to find the emotional nakedness beneath the literal nudity? What’s the artist’s responsibility when it comes to representation?"

Chris Fields, who directed Patterson’s One of the Nice Ones, directs again here. The cast features Steven Culp, Tamarra Graham, Stephen Guarino, Ryan Nealy and Michael Rishawn.

This is strong material with male nudity. As a result, this is a play for adults.

Handjob will continue at the Atwater Village Theatre through October 21st.

For tickets go here.

Cast: 1 female, 4 male
Genre: dark comedy
Keyword: LGBTQ, Race, Representation, Consent


Synopsis:

An encounter between a white, gay playwright and his black, straight "shirtless maid" goes disastrously wrong when signals are misinterpreted, lines crossed. HANDJOB explores the aftermath of their meeting, as it reveals deep layers of discrimination, discord, and discontent among people who should be on the same side. How do you know when you’ve gone too far if no one can agree where the boundaries should be?


Character Breakdown:

EDDIE, 20s, black, handsome, fit. Straight.

KEITH, 50s, white, a writer, disheveled. Gay.

BRADLEY, 20s, white, beautiful, fit, confident. Fluid.

KEVIN, 40s, white, a writer, disheveled. Gay.

SUSAN, 30s-40s, a woman of color, passionate, artistic. Queer.

TREVOR, to be played by the actor who plays Kevin. Gay.

JEFFREY, to be played by the actor who plays Bradley. Straight.