Mercedes Ruehl Will Play Louise Nevelson in Albee's Occupant

Tony and Oscar winner Mercedes Ruehl has signed on to play sculptor Louise Nevelson in Edward Albee's Occupant at the Signature Theatre Company next spring. The production will begin performances on May 6, 2008, and open on May 29 at the off-Broadway company's Peter Norton Space, directed by Pam MacKinnon. The limited engagement is scheduled to continue through June 29.

Originally produced at Signature in 2002 in a limited engagement starring Anne Bancroft, Occupant is a portrait of Nevelson and a quest to capture a charismatic and complex artist and persona. What is the relationship between creator and creation? Who was Louise Nevelson? Only she knew. Albee served as Signature's Playwright-in-Residence during the 1993-94 season.

Ruehl most recently appeared on the New York stage in the Broadway production of Albee's The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?, for which she received a Tony nomination. She won a Tony for Neil Simon's Lost in Yonkers and Obies for The Marriage of Bette and Boo and Woman Before a Glass. Her many film credits include The Fisher King, for which she earned an Academy Award, Married to the Mob, Big, The Last Action Hero, Another You, Heartburn, The Warriors, Four Friends, Radio Days, 84 Charing Cross Road, The Secret of My Success, Slaves of New York and Crazy People.

The current season will feature four major productions of works by Albee, who celebrates his 80th birthday on March 12, 2008. In addition to Occupant, the season will include Peter and Jerry, which opens on October 29 at Second Stage, Me, Myself and I at the McCarter Theatre, and The Sandbox and The American Dream at Cherry Lane Theatre.

Additional casting and creative team information for Occupant will be announced at a later date.