World Premiere of Hellman v. McCarthy to Star Roberta Maxwell, Marcia Rodd & Dick Cavett, Off-Broadway

Broadway favorites Roberta Maxwell (Equus) and Tony nominee Marcia Rodd (Shelter) are set to join Emmy winner Dick Cavett as himself in the world premiere of Brian Richard Mori’s play Hellman v. McCarthy. Directed by Jan Buttram, the show will have a limited engagement off-Broadway at the Abingdon Theatre Company's June Havoc Theatre March 14 through April 13. Opening night is set for March 26. 

One of the most notorious literary feuds in modern American history began on January 25, 1980 when literary critic Mary McCarthy (Rodd) appeared as a guest on The Dick Cavett Show and declared that "every word [playwright Lillian Hellman] writes is a lie, including 'and' and 'the.'" Hellman (Maxwell) sued McCarthy for libel, sparking a lawsuit that spanned more than four years. Hellman v. McCarthy infuses this historical event with theatrical comedy and pathos.

The cast will also feature Peter Brouwer, Rowan Michael Meyer and Jeff Woodman. The design team includes set design by Andrew Lu, lighting design by Travis McHale, costume design by Tony nominee Jane Greenwood and sound design by Ian Wehrle.

Mori's plays include Adult Fiction, Bedtime Stories, Coffee Talk, Dreams of Flight, First Date and Slow Fade to Black.