Janeane Garofalo to Star in the New Group's Russian Transport Off-Broadway

Janeane Garofalo will lead the cast of the New Group’s Russian Transport. The world premiere play by Erika Sheffer will begin performances at off-Broadway's Acorn Theatre at Theatre Row on January 17, 2012. New Group artistic director Scott Elliott will helm the piece, which officially opens on January 30.

In addition to Garofalo, who will star as Diana (mother), the cast of Russian Transport will feature Daniel Oreskes as Misha (father), Morgan Spector as Boris (uncle), Sarah Steele as Mira (daughter/niece) and Raviv Ullman as Alex (son/nephew).

Set in the Russian-Jewish enclave of Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, the play is a tale of an immigrant couple, their two assimilated teenagers and the fierce and fiery upheaval they experience when sexy, mysterious Uncle Boris from the old country comes to stay with them for his shot at the American dream.

Garofalo, who has previously been seen in off-Broadway's Love, Loss and What I Wore, is best known for her work in films like Reality Bites, The Truth About Cats & Dogs and Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion. Oreskes has been seen on Broadway in Billy Elliot and The Miracle Worker and off-Broadway in Roar and Terrorism. Spector has been seen on Broadway in A View from the Bridge, Steele’s off-Broadway credits include Speech and Debate and The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. Ullman is known for his work on Disney Channel’s Phil of the Future.