David Hyde Pierce to Star in One of Three World Premieres on Tap at Manhattan Theatre Club
Manhattan Theatre Club has announced three plays on tap for its 2011-2012 season, including a world premiere Broadway production by David Auburn and off-Broadway world premieres by actress-turned-playwright Zoe Kazan and Molly Smith Metzler, the latter to star David Hyde Pierce.
First up is Kazan’s We Live Here, which will begin previews at New York City Center Stage I on September 22 and open on October 12. The play centers on a family wedding at the Batemans. When the bride’s younger sister returns to their parents’ home for the festivities, she brings more than anyone expected: a new boyfriend, whose hidden history resurrects passions and painful memories for the whole family. Over one emotionally charged weekend, The Batemans must acknowledge and accept loss to gain hope for regeneration.
MTC commissioned this play from Kazan, known for her performances in Broadway plays such as A Behanding in Spokane, The Seagull and Come Back, Little Sheba. She made her playwriting debut at the Humana Festival with Absalom. No casting or director has been announced for We Love Here.
Tony winner David Hyde Pierce has signed on to star in the world premiere of Metzler’s Close Up Space, directed by Leigh Silverman. The play will begin previews at New York City Center Stage I on December 1 and open on December 19. Pierce will play Paul Barrow, an obsessive book editor on a major deadline. With an assistant who's been camping in the office, a famous author threatening to bail on him and an intern who is no help at all, Paul's just about had it! But when his fiery daughter shows up and lambasts him in Russian, Paul faces a glaring personal error that can't be corrected with red ink.
A Tony winner for Curtains and multiple Emmy winner for Frasier, Pierce most recently starred in the Broadway revival of La Bete and has appeared on Broadway in MTC’s Accent on Youth, Spamalot and The Heidi Chronicles.
Tony winner Auburn (Proof) returns to MTC with the world premiere of The Columnist, which will begin previews at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on January 4, 2012, and open on January 26. The play centers on famous columnist Joseph Alsop, who was beloved, feared and courted in equal measure by the Washington political world at whose center he sat. But as the ‘60s dawn and America undergoes dizzying change, the intense political drama Joe is embroiled in becomes deeply personal as well. No casting or director has been announced.
In the coming weeks, two additional Broadway productions will be announced for the Friedman Theatre and one additional off-Broadway production will be announced for New York City Center Stage I.
