T.R. Knight to Co-Star with Patrick Stewart in Mamet's A Life in the Theatre

Grey’s Anatomy star T.R. Knight will return to Broadway for the first time in seven years when he co-stars with Patrick Stewart in the Broadway premiere of David Mamet’s A Life in the Theatre. Performances will now begin on September 23 at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, directed by Mamet’s frequent collaborator Neil Pepe. No opening night has been announced.

Describing life in the footlights from an actor's point of view, A Life in the Theatre focuses on the relationship between Robert (Stewart), an older, experienced performer, and John (Knight), a relative newcomer. Though Robert's guidance is welcomed by John at first, as the play progresses Robert falters as an actor and mentor, and John emerges as a mature actor. Mamet was inspired to write the play by what he had observed backstage as well as by his own experiences in his early career as an actor.

A Life in the Theatre had its world premiere at The Goodman Theatre in Chicago in February 1977 starring Mike Nussbaum and Joe Mantegna. The play opened off-Broadway on October 20, 1977, at the Lucille Lortel Theatre and ran for 288 performances, starring Ellis Rabb and Peter Evans.

Knight received an Emmy nomination for playing Dr. George O’Malley in Grey’s Anatomy and starred as Leo Frank in a fall 2009 Los Angeles production of the musical Parade. Before becoming an original cast member in the hit medical drama in 2004, he appeared on Broadway in Noises Off and Tartuffe and off-Broadway in This Lime Tree Bower, Scattergood (receiving a Drama Desk Award nomination) and Boy. He began his career at the Guthrie Theatre in his native Minneapolis, where he played Tiny Tim at age five in A Christmas Carol and later appeared in Ah, Wilderness! and Amadeus.

A Life in the Theatre will feature scenic design by Santo Loquasto, lighting design by Kenneth Posner and costume design by Laura Bauer and will be produced by Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel and Jam Theatricals.