Julianne Nicholson to Star in This at Playwrights Horizons

TV vet Julianne Nicholson (Law & Order: Criminal Intent) has joined the cast of Playwrights Horizons’ forthcoming world premiere of Melissa James Gibson’s This, replacing Parker Posey, who dropped out after being diagnosed with Lyme disease. The play will begin previews on November 6 and open on December 2 at the off-Broadway company’s Mainstage Theatre, directed by Daniel Aukin. The limited engagement is scheduled to continue through December 13.

Completing the five-person cast of This is Darren Pettie (Butley, Spatter Pattern, the feature film Taking Woodstock), who joins Nicholson and previously announced cast members Eisa Davis, Glenn Fitzgerald and Louis Cancelmi.

In This, Jane (Nicholson) is not okay. She’s a promising poet without a muse, a single mother without lessons to pass along. Her dating life’s a shambles, and her helpful friends are only helping make things more complicated. Described as a bright, witty, un-romantic comedy, the play captures the uncertain steps of a circle of friends backing their way into middle age.

Nicholson played Detective Megan Wheeler on Law & Order: Criminal Intent and was a regular on Ally McBeal. On the big screen, she’s in the cast of the just-opened Brief Interviews with Hideous Men and has appeared in Staten Island, Seeing Other People, Tully, Kinsey, The Love Letter and One True Thing. Stage credits include the off-Broadway production of Craig Lucas’ The Stranger.

This will feature scenic design by Louisa Thompson, costume design by Maiko Matsushima, lighting design by Matt Frey, sound design by Matt Tierney and original music by Peter Eldridge.