Complete Casting Announced for Primary Stages' Happy Now?

Complete casting has been announced for Primary Stages' New York premiere of Lucinda Coxon's Happy Now? The new play, directed by Liz Diamond, begins performances January 26, 2010, at 59E59 Theaters, opening February 9 and playing through March 6. Happy Now concludes the company's 25th anniversary season, which celebrates female playwrights.

The seven-member cast features Kate Arrington (Steppenwolf's Fake; off-Broadway's When the Messenger is Hot) as Bea, Kelly AuCoin (Broadway's Julius Caesar; off-Broadway's Some Men) as Johnny, Mary Bacon (Broadway's Rock 'n' Roll, off-Broadway's Becky Shaw) as Kitty, Brian Keane (off-Broadway's Side Man, Frank Langella's Cyrano de Bergerac) as Carl, Joan MacIntosh (Broadway's The Seagull, the Public's The Bacchae) as June, Quentin Mare (Broadway's Rock 'n' Roll and Julius Caesar) as Miles and CJ Wilson (Broadway's Festen, off-Broadway's Offices) as Michael.

Happy Now? is about a chance encounter at a hotel that plays upon Kitty’s mind as she struggles to balance personal freedom with family life, fidelity and a demanding job. Her husband is more interested in misplaced apostrophes than in their marriage, her parents are looking down the barrel of oblivion, and although she toys with the idea of joining a gym, Kitty’s running out of time for big changes. The play opened to rave reviews at the National Theatre in London last year.

Coxon's plays include Waiting at the Water’s Edge, Wishbones, Three Glances, The Ice Palace, Nostalgia, Vesuvius, I Am Angela Brazil by Angela Brazil, The Shoemaker’s Incredible Wife, and Happy Now? Her screenplays include Spaghetti Slow, The Heart of Me, Lilacs, and Wild Target. She has just finished work on The Danish Girl, a screen adaptation of David Ebershoff's novel, featuring Nicole Kidman and Gwyneth Paltrow.

The creative team for Happy Now? includes Narelle Sissons (set), Jen Moeller (costumes), Matt Frey (lights), and David Budries (sound).