West Virginia University Theatre professor Lee Blair is appearing in “Destinations,” a play by Dawn Eaton, during August at the New York International Fringe Festival, or FringeNYC, the largest multi-arts festival in North America.

More than 200 companies from all over the world will perform at the festival for 16 days in more than 20 venues.

“This is the 15th annual New York International Fringe Festival and this is my third time appearing at the festival,” Blair said.

“Dawn Eaton and I worked together on this play a couple of times in the past when I lived in New York’s west side in Hell’s Kitchen during 1997 to 2006,” he said. “I did two different staged readings of the show back in 2002 and in 2004.

“Destinations” is a play with music that explores friendship and loyalty, with a mix of humor and drama, and features an original rock and pop score. The music and lyrics are by R.S. Rodkin.

It’s the story of a rock and roll band, the Destinations, that is at the top of its game in 1974 and on a national tour promoting a new hit single. However, the whole thing implodes due to the lead singer’s raging drug use.

Ten years after its volatile breakup, the band mounts a comeback tour with a new and dynamic female lead singer. But the comeback isn’t any easier, as loyalties are tested and relationships break apart.

“I originally read the role of Rick, the band’s manager,” Blair said. “When Dawn contacted me and told me the play had been accepted into FringeNYC, she asked if I would be interested in playing Rick once again.

“The character of Rick is a bit of a typical manager – slick, a little slimy, always looking for another buck and put out by everyone around him. Rick knows best and nobody else knows anything!” he laughed.

Blair returned to New York City on July 31 and began rehearsals on Aug. 1 with director Gregory Fletcher, who is head of the Theatre department at Niagara University.

“I’m really excited to return to New York and be just an actor,” Blair said. “It’s much easier than being the director.”

Blair performed at FringeNYC in 1999 in “The All-Male Importance of Being Earnest” by Oscar Wilde, adapted by Hugh Hysell, and in 2003 in “Mirror, Mirror” by David Sympatico.

The festival has been a launching pad to the mainstream theater for many shows such as “Urinetown! The Musical” and “Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead.”

Both of those plays were produced by the WVU Division of Theatre and Dance at the Creative Arts Center in 2009 and 2010, with Blair as the director.

Blair has also directed musicals and other plays at WVU and in the West Virginia region, as well as in Murfreesboro, Tenn., and in New York.

Performances for “Destinations” at the Fringe Festival are listed on the show’s homepage at www.destinations.us.com.

The venue is Le Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker Street. The performances in FringeNYC vary in day and time, but the play will have six performances over the course of the 16-day festival.

-WVU-

cl/08/19/11

CONTACT: Charlene Lattea, College of Creative Arts
304-293-4359, Charlene.Lattea@mail.wvu.edu

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