The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner Begins Performances at the Atlantic Theater Company

Atlantic Theater Company’s The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, starring Eshan Bay and Sheldon Best, begins performances  off-Broadway January 8. Written by Roy Williams and directed by Leah C. Gardiner, the production's opening night is set for January 21 at ATC’s Stage 2. The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner will play a limited engagement through February 9, 2014.

Based on Alan Sillitoe’s classic story, The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner tells the story of Colin (Best), who with few prospects in life, finds himself in a prison school for criminal activity. He turns to long distance running as an escape, only to have the school exploit him for his talent, offering him a possible way out. Will he run his race for them, or for his independence?

Joining Bay and Best will be Zainab Jah, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Patrick Murney, Joshua E. Nelson, Sydney Sainté, Raviv Ullman, Todd Weeks and Malik Yoba.The creative team for The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner includes scenic design by Lauren Helpern, costume design by Bobby Frederick Tilley II, lighting design by Michael Chybowski, sound design by Bart Fasbender and projection design by Pauline Lu and Paul Piekarz.