Casting Complete for Gurney's Crazy Mary at Playwrights Horizons

Casting has been completed for Playwrights Horizons' forthcoming world-premiere production of A.R. Gurney's Crazy Mary, directed by Jim Simpson, artistic director of The Flea Theater. Previews will begin May 11 with an official opening on June 3 at Playwrights Horizons' Mainstage Theater. The limited engagement will continue through June 17.

As previously announced, the cast will be headlined by Tony Award nominee and three-time Academy Award nominee Sigourney Weaver Hurlyburly on Broadway; Gemini at Playwrights Horizons; Mrs. Farnsworth, The Mercy Seat and The Guys off-Broadway. Weaver and her real-life spouse, Simpson, collaborated with Gurney on his play Mrs. Farnsworth at The Flea in 2004. Appearing in the title role will be two-time Obie Award winner Kristine Nielsen Miss Witherspoon and Betty's Summer Vacation at Playwrights Horizons; currently appearing in Our Leading Lady at Manhattan Theatre Club.

Joining Weaver and Nielsen are Michael Esper Manic Flight Reaction at Playwrights Horizons, subUrbia at Second Stage, Mitchell Greenberg Isn't It Romantic at Playwrights Horizons, Old Wicked Songs at the Promenade and Myra Lucretia Taylor Fabulation at Playwrights Horizons, Nine on Broadway.

In Crazy Mary, in an attempt to account for the family inheritance, the scion of a wealthy Buffalo, NY clan Weaver and her willful, college-aged son Esper visit their long lost cousin Mary Nielsen. The catch: Mary is living in an asylum for the wealthy insane and has barely spoken in years, forcing mother and son to employ radical ends to get through.

Gurney has a long history at Playwrights Horizons, which produced his plays The Dining Room, The Perfect Party, Later Life, The Old Boy, A Cheever Evening and Another Antigone. His play Indian Blood was staged last summer at Primary Stages. Other notable works include Love Letters, Sylvia, Mrs. Farnsworth and The Middle Ages.

Crazy Mary will feature scenic design by Tony Award winner John Lee Beatty, costume design by Claudia Brown, lighting design by Brian Aldous, sound design by Jill BC DuBoff and original music by Michael Holland.