Bert Young stars in world premiere comedy "The Last Vig" at Zephyr Theatre

LOS ANGELES - Dec. 16, 2016 - PRLog -- Academy Award-nominated actorBurt Young(Rocky, Chinatown, The Pope of Greenwich Village) takes on the role of an aging mob boss in a new comedy written and directed byDavid Varriale. The world premiere ofThe Last Vigwill openJan. 14at theZephyr Theatreon Melrose for a six-week run.

Joined onstage byBen Adams(West End and national touring productions ofPeter Pan),Clint Jung, (Ray Donovan, Prison Break, Music Within),Bruce Nozick(Weeds, All the Way, The Last Ship) andGareth Williams(Dawson's Creek, The Shield), Young will play the character of "Big Joe," a Mafia wiseguy getting along in years who might just be the last of a dying breed.

"I wanted to look at the changing of the guard," explains Varriale. "For so long the mob was part of our cultural mythology. But there don't seem to be any superstars left. Gambino, Gotti – they're all dead. Bulger is incarcerated. Atlantic City is going bankrupt."

InThe Last Vig, times are changing. Big Joe is old. But is he out?. Can he stay in the game with the help of his young, hip-hip loving assistant, Bocce, and his old friend, Jimmy "The Fixer" D? Or will the juice on the $100K he owes be his last vig?

"In my opinion, this play is like a living documentary," says Young. "These characters are real street fellas."

Set design forThe Last Vigis byJoel Daavid; lighting design is byKelley Finn; sound design is byWill Mahood; costume design is byMylette Nora; props design is byPhi Tran; original music is composed and recorded byJeff Babko; graphic design is byKiff Scholl,AfK Design; casting is byRussell Boast,CSA; andRacquel Lehrman,Theatre Plannersproduces.

Burt Young is a burly, talented character actor who has remained consistently busy playing "rough around the edge" types, often on the wrong side of the law. He was born on April 30, 1940 in New York City, where he received his dramatic arts training under legendary acting coach Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio. Young first gathered notice playing tough thugs in such films asThe Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight, Across 110th Street, ChinatownandThe Gambler.Fiery director Sam Peckinpah cast Young as the getaway driver/assassin, "Mac," inThe Killer Elite, and Young came to the attention of newcomer Sylvester Stallone, who cast him as future brother-in-law "Paulie" in the 1976 sleeper hitRocky. Young received an Oscar nomination for the role, which he has gone on to reprise in all fiveRockysequels to date. Peckinpah again cast him, this time as renegade trucker "Pigpen" inConvoy— watch for Pigpen's Mack truck where the writing on the door states "Paulie Hauling." Young has appeared in numerous other major productions, including Once Upon a Time in America, The Pope of Greenwich Village, Last Exit to Brooklyn, Mickey Blue Eyes, The Adventures of Pluto NashandWin Win.Recently, Young received critical acclaim for his work in the short filmTom in America, including a Jury Award nomination for Best Actor at the 2016 Queens World Film Festival, a Maverick Movie Award nomination for Best Actor at the 2015 Maverick Movie Awards, and the Festival Prize for Best Actor, Short Drama at the 2015 Atlantic City Cinefest. In 2014, Young was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Hoboken International Film Festival.

The Last Vigopens on Saturday,Jan. 14, continuing through Feb. 19 onSaturdaysat8 p.m.;Sundaysat7 p.m.;Mondaysat8 p.m.; and two Fridays,Feb. 10andFeb. 17, at8 p.m.Two low-priced preview performances take place on Thursday, Jan. 12 and Friday, Jan. 13, each at 8 p.m. General admission is$40, except previews which are$20. TheZephyr Theatreis located at7456 Melrose Ave.,Los Angeles,CA90046(between Fairfax and La Brea). For reservations and information, call(323) 960-7712or go towww.TheLastVig.com (http://zdscommunications.pr-optout.com/Tracking.aspx?Data...).