Giancarlo Esposito, Tonya Pinkins & More Set for John Patrick Shanley’s Storefront Church

Giancarlo Esposito and Tonya Pinkins will lead the Atlantic Theater Company's world premiere of Storefront Church, written and directed by John Patrick Shanley. The limited engagement runs May 16 through June 24, with an opening night set for June 11. The production, which was previously titled Sleeping Demon, will be the first show presented at the Atlantic's newly renovated Linda Gross Theatre. The cast also includes Bob Dishy, Zach Grenier and Ron Cephas Jones.

Storefront Church completes Shanley's "Church and State" trilogy, which began with his Tony-winning play, Doubt. The show tells the story of a Bronx borough President (Esposito) who, forced by the mortgage crisis, must confront a local minister (Jones). The question in front of them is one that faces us all: What is the relationship between spiritual experience and social action? 

Esposito is known for his role as Gustavo Fring on AMC’s Breaking Bad. His stage credits include Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Sacrilege, Don’t Get God Started, Merrily We Roll Along, Seesaw and Lost in the Stars. Pinkins received a Tony Award for her role in Jelly’s Last Jam and a Tony award nomination for her starring title role in the musical Caroline, or Change. She recently finished a run off-Broadway in Katori Hall’s Hurt Village.

Dishy has appeared in 17 Broadway productions and most recently starred off-Broadway in Knickerbocker and Enter Laughing. Grenier received a Tony nomination for 33 Variations. His other stage credits include Gabriel and Man and Boy. Jones also recently appeared off-Broadway in Hurt Village.

Storefront Church will feature scenic design by Takeshi Kata, costume design by Alejo Vietti, lighting design by Matthew Richards and sound design by Bart Fasbender.