Casting Complete for Hollinger's Opus at Primary Stages

Casting is complete for Michael Hollinger's Opus, the first production in Primary Stages' 2007-08 season devoted to new works by American playwrights. Directed by Terrence J. Nolen, Opus will begin previews on July 24 at the off-Broadway company's home base, 59E59 Theaters, with opening night set for August 7. The play will continue through September 1.

The five-member cast features David Beach Mamma Mia, Urinetown, Mahira Kakkar Miss Witherspoon, Michael Laurence Talk Radio, Doug Rees world premiere of Opus and Richard Topol Awake and Sing, Julius Caesar.

Opus centers on a world-renowned string quartet struggling to prepare for their highest-profile performance when the violist, and founder of the quartet, mysteriously disappears. When a young woman is hired as the replacement, her musical gifts inspire the musicians, and they decide on short notice to abandon their Pachelbel Canon program and to replace it with Beethoven's difficult Opus 131. The rehearsal room becomes a pressure cooker as passions rise, personalities clash and the musicians are forced to tackle the ephemeral nature of their life's work.

Hollinger's previous play An Empty Plate in the Cafe du Grand Boeuf had its New York premiere at Primary Stages. Opus garnered two 2006 Barrymore Awards for Outstanding New Play and Outstanding Direction of a Play when it received its world premiere at the Arden Theatre Company in Philadelphia, directed by Nolan, the theater's co-founder and producing artistic director. Hollinger and Nolan also collaborated on the plays Red Herring, Incorruptible, Tiny Island and Tooth and Claw at Arden.

The creative team for Opus includes Jim Kronzer sets, Anne Kennedy costumes, Justin Townsend lights and Jorge Cousineau sound.