Fat Pig's Ashlie Atkinson Joins Cast of The Ritz; Comedy Delays One Day

Ashlie Atkinson, who played the lead in off-Broadway's Fat Pig, has joined the cast of The Ritz. She will replace Caroline Aaron in the role of Vivian Proclo wife to Kevin Chamberlin's Gaetano Proclo in the comedy, which has now cancelled its first scheduled preview performance. The Ritz will now start at Studio 54 on Saturday, September 15. No reason was offered for the change in actresses.

For Neil LaBute's Fat Pig, Atkinson won a Theatre World Award and received nominations for a Lucille Lortel Award and an Outer Critics Circle Award. In June, she was seen at Second Stage Theatre in the play The Butcher of Baraboo. She appeared on TV's Rescue Me and on the big screen in Inside Man, Another Gay Movie, Puccini for Beginners and the upcoming Margot at the Wedding. Fun fact: Since 2003, Atkinson has skated for the Gotham Girls Roller Derby under the name of Margaret Thrasher, Prime Minister of Your Demise.

The Ritz is an over-the-top comedy that takes place in a bathhouse in Manhattan. When Gaetano Proclo needs to hide from a mobster, he escapes to the Ritz. When Gaetano realizes the Ritz is a gay bathhouse and not a Turkish bath, he pretends to be a big-time Broadway producer to keep suspicions low. When Carmine locates Gaetano, wild, manic mayhem ensues.

The Ritz also stars Rosie Perez as Googie Gomez, Brooks Ashmanskas as Chris and former gay porn star Ryan Idol as one of its many scantily-clad bathhouse patrons. Joe Mantello directs.

Despite the delay, The Ritz will still open on October 11.