Richard Vetere’s new psychological crime thriller, ZAGŁADA, is set for its New York City premiere at the American Theatre of Actors (ATA), supported by a powerhouse team of Broadway veterans, acclaimed character actors, and an experienced director. The production, running from October 16 to November 2, features the formidable talent of Tony Award winner Len Cariou, leading an electrifying cast to confront a chilling piece of history.

The play, which centers on the arrest of an elderly Maspeth resident—a former kapo in a Nazi concentration camp—demands a cast with the gravitas and skill to navigate the story’s dense layers of historical trauma, moral ambiguity, and high-stakes confrontation.

The Headliner: Len Cariou as Jerzy Kozlowski

Leading the cast is the internationally recognized, Tony Award-winning, and Emmy-nominated Broadway icon, Len Cariou.

Cariou is perhaps best known for his legendary, Tony-winning performance as the title character in Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. His extensive, 65-year career spans regional stages, Broadway, off-Broadway, film, and television, earning him membership in the Theatre Hall of Fame. A master of the classical repertoire, he has twice assayed the title role in King Lear.

While his stage career is monumental—recently honored with the 2024 John Willis Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre—Cariou is also a beloved figure on television. For 14 seasons, he played the patriarch ‘Pop’ Reagan on CBS’s hit show Blue Bloods. His recent work includes the award-winning off-Broadway role of Morrie Shwartz in Tuesdays With Morrie.

In ZAGŁADA, Cariou takes on the central and challenging role of Jerzy Kozlowski, the 90-year-old former kapo arrested for shooting a journalist. His casting ensures the character, though morally dark, will be portrayed with a depth and humanity that forces the audience to grapple with the play’s central questions of justice and self-preservation.

The Electrifying Supporting Cast

The veteran performers joining Cariou are charged with portraying the three New Yorkers who must confront Kozlowski and his past: Danielle Hooper (the journalist), NYPD Officer Frank Napoli, and Homeland Security Officer Sonia Sokolow.

Jes Washington

A New York actress, writer, and singer, Jes Washington brings a compelling resume of stage and screen work. A Lifetime Member of the Actors Studio, her dedication to in-depth character work is clear. Her stage credits include off-Broadway productions such as Coping Mechanism and White Woman, Black Boy, and her acclaimed international one-woman show Who Will Sing for Lena. Washington is also known for her television appearances on HBO’s The Gilded Age and CBS’s The Equalizer. Her involvement in workshops directed by figures like Estelle Parsons and Steve Broadnax III further speaks to her commitment to developing challenging new work.

Salvatore Inzerillo

Salvatore Inzerillo is a respected New York-based actor, director, and artistic director, with deep roots in the city’s theatre scene. A member of both LAByrinth Theater Company and The Actors Studio, Inzerillo has worked extensively at The Public Theater and developed over a hundred new plays with leading American playwrights. His stage credits include originating roles in early works by Stephen Adly Guirgis, all directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman, such as In Arabia We’d All Be Kings and Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train. He also appeared in The Iceman Cometh with Nathan Lane and Brian Dennehy at BAM. On screen, he is recognizable from roles in Boardwalk Empire, The Deuce, and various Law & Order franchises. Inzerillo’s history with gritty, character-driven material makes him an ideal fit for this psychological thriller.

The Creative Vision: Director Maja Wampuszyc

Guiding the production is director Maja Wampuszyc, who has a close working relationship with playwright Richard Vetere, having directed the development process of ZAGŁADA at the PDW at The Actors Studio.

Wampuszyc is an accomplished actress herself, known for her appearances on Broadway in Irena’s Vow, as well as off-Broadway and regional productions. Her film and TV credits include The Immigrant (with Marion Cotillard), Mona Lisa Smile, The Knick, and Madam Secretary. As a director, her work is recognized for its bold approach, having previously helmed productions in Krakow, Poland, and throughout the U.S. Her deep familiarity with the script and Vetere’s writing ensures an interpretation that is both true to the playwright’s intent and dramatically compelling.

The Creative Home: The American Theatre of Actors (ATA)

The production is staged at the American Theatre of Actors, a venue founded in 1976 by James Jennings. The ATA continues its mission of spotlighting socially and historically resonant works, having produced over 1,000 original plays and served as an artistic home for figures like Dennis Quaid, Edie Falco, and Chazz Palminteri early in their careers. The ATA’s legacy provides the perfect institutional support for a drama that grapples with weighty historical and moral questions.