MTC Sets Dates for Broadway Revival of Master Class Starring Tyne Daly

Manhattan Theatre Club has confirmed previous reports that Tyne Daly will play Maria Callas in a Broadway revival of Terrence McNally’s Master Class. The play will begin previews at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on May 24 and open on June 21, becoming the first production of the 2011-2012 Broadway season. Master Class is directed by Stephen Wadsworth, who helmed an acclaimed production starring Daly at the Kennedy Center in spring 2010.

Master Class is a portrait of the opera diva told through her recollections of the glories, triumphs, and tragedies of her own life and career. Her voice is gone, her lover is long departed, and her sanity could possibly be next. All she has is a lonely itinerary of master classes and luggage packed full of the memories that are her only travel companion.

McNally's play originally opened on Broadway on November 5, 1995, and won 1996 Tony Awards for Best Play, Best Actress (Zoe Caldwell) and Best Featured Actress (Audra McDonald). The play ran for 598 performances, closing on June 29, 1997.

Daly returns to MTC after appearing in the world premiere production of David Lindsay-Abaire’s Rabbit Hole, which garnered her a Tony nomination. She received a Tony Award for her performance in the 1989 revival of Gypsy and appeared off-Broadway in the opening night company of Love, Loss and What I Wore. Daly is best known for her portrayal of Detective Mary Beth Lacey in Cagney and Lacey, for which she received four Emmy Awards. In addition, she received Emmys for Christy and Judging Amy.

Additional casting and creative team members for Master Class will be announced in the coming weeks.