NEWARK VIOLENTA World Premiere Plays the Edge Theater, Now thru 1/26

The Edge Theater Company presents the world premiere of "Newark Violenta" by Colorado playwright/musician Jonson Kuhn. "Newark Violenta" runs January 4 through January 26 with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m.; Sundays at 6:00 p.m. and Monday, January 14 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20.00 and available by calling 303-232-0363 or online at www.theedgetheater.com. Group rates are available. The Edge Theater, 9797 W. Colfax Ave., Lakewood, Colo. Free Parking.

Newark Violenta is a tribute to the old Umberto Lenzi Italian crime cinema from the 70's and takes its name from Lenzi's classic film Napoli Violenta. Newark tells the story of Leo Betti, an aging bookie/Vietnam veteran in New Jersey who finds himself stuck between the mob and a hard spot, as he tries to right the wrongs of his past and set things straight with his estranged son.

"Newark Violenta" features Rick Yaconis as Leo, Verl Hite as Frank, Robert Kramer as Fallonback, Ryan Goold as Jackie, Christian Mast as Anthony and Brock Benson as Callus.

Jonson Kuhn has been writing plays for the last ten years and studied theatre at Mesa State College under Richard Cowden. Rich Cowden directed Kuhn's first Denver production; Cowgirls Blame It On Monday, in 2003. In 2004 his play Redneck in Shining Armor won the RMTA Award for best play. Kuhn was fortunate to intern at New Dramatists in New York during 2006, then returned to Denver. In 2007 his play Denver was nominated for a Denver Post Ovation Award and in 2008 his play 4 Days In Bed was published in Desert Road's One Acts Of Note, an anthology of notable American plays for 2008. You also might have caught him on stage around Denver as Jonny Woodrose with his band Woodrose.

Newark Violenta will be the last Edge production in the current location as the theater company plans its move to a new space located at 1560 Teller Street in Lakewood.

The production will run Fri. / Sat. @ 8 p.m.; Sun. @ 6 p.m. and Monday, January 14 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 adult / $16 student & senior ($15 advance purchase). Call 303-232-0363 or online at www.theedgetheater.com. The Edge Theater is located at 9797 W. Colfax Ave., Lakewood, Colo. Free Parking.

Photo credit: Rachel Graham

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