Matthew Passion, a new play with music by Phil Hall, begins previews on Thursday, March 29th Off-Broadway at American Theatre of Actors' Chernuchin Theatre. The opening will be Monday, April 2, 2007 at 8:00 pm for the limited engagement. It is directed by Steve Stringfellow with choreography by Jacob Brent.

The cast includes Jeff Applegate, James Royce Edwards (Altar Boyz, Pippin at Goodspeed), Jimmi Kilduff, Timothy John Mandala, Chad McCallon, Craig Ramsey, Andrew Redeker, Matt Shepard, and Jay Sullivan. "Matthew Passion tells the story of the passion of Christ; the story of Matthew Shepard being picked up at a bar in Laramie, Wyoming, beaten and left for dead on a hillside; and the story of a middle-aged HIV positive survivor who has outlived his life expectancy. Although the three stories take place in three different locations, and are thousands of years apart, they all reflect one another and converge in the final scene," according to press notes.

Matthew Passion opens at the American Theatre of Actors' Chernuchin Theatre at 314 West 54th Street (Between 8th and 9th). Performances of the limited engagement through April 8th are: Wednesday – Saturday at 8:00 pm; Sunday at 3:00 pm. There are special performances: Sunday, April 1 at 7:30 pm and for the opening night, Monday, April 2, at 8:00 pm. Tickets are $18 and are available through SmartTix: (212) 868-4444. For more information, visit www.matthewpassion.com.