John Pollono’s Small Engine Repair is the little engine that could, and now it will celebrate its New York premiere this fall. MCC Theater previously postponed the show’s planned spring 2013 run due to scheduling conflicts. Starring The Walking Dead’s Jon Bernthal as well as the playwright, Small Engine Repair will play the Lucille Lortel Theatre beginning October 30, and officially opening November 18.
In Small Engine Repair, Frank, Swaino and Packie, buddies since high school, now past their prime, meet off-hours in Frank’s out-of-the-way repair shop under cloudy circumstances that only Frank has a handle on. Enter Chad, a plugged-in preppy college jock, whose arrival ignites an explosion of long-simmering resentment and rage in this taut, twisty, comic thriller. Additional casting to be announced soon. Jo Bonney directs.
Small Engine Repair first premiered in 2011 at the Rogue Machine Theatre in Los Angeles. The play won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Award for Playwriting as well as an Ovation Award and three Garland Awards.
MCC’s next production is Neil LaBute’s Reasons to Be Happy, starring Jenna Fischer, Leslie Bibb, Josh Hamilton and Fred Weller. It begins on May 16 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre.