The Public Theater

With Michael Chernus, Alicia Goranson, Marc Damon Johnson, Piter Marek, Deidre O’Connell, John Ottavino, Susan Pourfar, Renaldy Smith and Christopher Thornton

Ian is back from the war in Iraq without the use of his legs but with a full-blown case of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and a year’s supply of OxyContin. Now, he has to face the person he has become after the war. Left unfinished by the late playwright John Belluso, director Lisa Peterson and a company of designers and actors fuse together the final drafts of the script to create a thrilling, highly theatrical interpretation of the writer’s final work.

The Poor Itch has nudity and adult situations. Herbal cigarettes are smoked onstage.

Scenic design by Rachel Hauck; costume design by Gabriel Berry; lighting design by Ben Stanton; and original music and sound design by Robert Kaplowitz.

Running Time: 2 hours, 45 minutes (includes one intermission)

Unavailable performances: March 8 at 2, March 9 at 7, March 20 at 8
Open caption performance: March 20 at 8. Please email us for more information.
To order wheelchair seat locations, please call The Public Theater Box Office at 212-260-2400.

Post-show discussions:

Saturday, March 8 at 8
A Tribute to John Belluso: Artist and Activist
Speakers include Oskar Eustis(Artistic Director of The Public Theater), Lisa Peterson (Director of The Poor Itch) and Victoria Ann Lewis (Founding Director of the Mark Taper Forum's Other Voices Project).

Wednesday, March 12
Returning Home from the War:
A Conversation with Paul Rieckhoff, Executive Director and Founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

The Public is pleased to partner with the following organizations on
The Poor Itch:


Alliance for the Inclusion in the Arts



Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America