''The Dog Problem'' is a play by

David Rabe David William Rabe (born March 10, 1940) is an American playwright and screenwriter. He won the Tony Award for Best Play in 1972 ('' Sticks and Bones'') and also received Tony award nominations for Best Play in 1974 ('' In the Boom Boom Room''), ...

that premiered, May 6, 2001, in New York City at the

Atlantic Theater Company Atlantic Theater Company is an Off-Broadway non-profit theater, whose mission is to produce great plays "simply and truthfully utilizing an artistic ensemble." The company was founded in 1985 by David Mamet, William H. Macy, and 30 of their acti ...

. The cast included Joe Pacheco as Ronnie,

Larry Clarke Larry Denman Clarke, OC, LLD (Hon) (June 12, 1925 – October 22, 2015) was a Canadian businessman and the founder, president, chief executive officer, and chairman of SPAR Aerospace Limited, the designer of the Canadarm. He is a founding Dire ...

as Ray, David Wike as Joey,

Victor Argo Victor Argo (November 5, 1934 – April 7, 2004) was an American actor of Puerto Rican descent who usually played the part of a tough bad guy in his movies. He had a career span of forty years. He is best known for ''Mean Streets'' (1973), ...

as Uncle Malvolio, Tony Cucci as Tommy Stones, Andrea Gabriel as Teresa,

Robert Bella Robert Bella is an American filmmaker, best known for his work as a television Director, Writer & Producer on shows such as The Rookie, '' The Rookie: Feds'', Castle and ''The Following''. Bella has also worked on over 100 plays as an actor, d ...

as Priest, and Buddy as The Dog. The Creative team included: Director:

Scott Ellis Scott Ellis (born April 19, 1957) is an American stage director, actor, and television director. Biography Ellis graduated from Goodman School of Drama at the Art Institute of Chicago (now at DePaul University) in Chicago.

, producer Noel Ashman, Costumes: Michael Krass, Lighting: Brian Nason, Sets: Allen Moyer, Sound: Eileen Tague, Fight Direction: Rick Sordelet.

History

The first version of the play premiered at the

Williamstown Theater Festival The Williamstown Theatre Festival is a resident summer stock theater, summer theater on the campus of Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1954 by Williams College news director Ralph Renzi and drama program chairm ...

in the summer of 1998 as a one-act play entitled ''Corners''. The cast included Joe Pacheco as Ronnie,

Robert Pastorelli Robert Joseph Pastorelli (June 21, 1954 – March 8, 2004) was an American actor. After he acquired a reputation as a skilled character actor in the 1980s and 1990s, Pastorelli's career went into decline after the death of his girlfriend under my ...

as Ray,

Christopher Meloni Christopher Peter Meloni (; born April 2, 1961) is an American actor. He is known for his television roles as NYPD Detective Elliot Stabler on the NBC legal drama '' Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' for its first 12 seasons and its spin-off ...

as Joey,

as Uncle Malvolio,

Ty Burrell Tyler Gerald Burrell (born August 22, 1967) is an American actor and comedian. Burrell is best known for his role as Phil Dunphy on the ABC sitcom ''Modern Family'', for which he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor ...

as Tommy Stones, and

Kathryn Hahn Kathryn Marie Hahn (born July 23, 1973) is an American actress and comedian. She began her career on television, starring as grief counselor Lily Lebowski in the NBC crime drama series '' Crossing Jordan'' (2001–2007). Hahn gained prominence ...

as Theresa. The production team included

(director),

Allen Moyer Allen Moyer (born 1958) is an American set designer particularly known for his work in operas and Broadway musicals. Moyer grew up in Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania. After two years at Albright College in Reading, Pennsylvania, he transferred to ...

(set design), Brian Nason (lights), Eilenn Hague (sound), and Constance Hoffman (costumes). An expanded version of ''Corners'' premiered in 2000 at the

Long Wharf Theatre Long Wharf Theatre is a nonprofit institution in New Haven, Connecticut, a pioneer in the not-for-profit regional theatre movement, the originator of several prominent plays, and a venue where many internationally known actors have appeared. Fou ...

(Stage 2) under the name ''The Dog Problem''.

directed that production and the cast included Joe Pacheco as Ronnie, Larry Clarke as Ray, David Wike as Joey,

as Uncle Malvolio, Andrea Gabriel as Theresa, Michael Kell as Priest, and Ed Lemert as The Dog.

References

External links

''The Dog Problem''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dog Problem Plays by David Rabe 2001 plays