Larry Bryggman to Join Mercedes Ruehl in Edward Albee's Occupant

Tony nominee Larry Bryggman will join previously announced star Mercedes Ruehl in the world premiere of Edward Albee's Occupant at Signature Theatre Company. The play will begin previews off-Broadway at the Peter Norton Space on May 6 and open on June 5 rather than the previously announced May 29, directed by Pam MacKinnon, whose production of Albee's Peter and Jerry received critical praise earlier this season at Second Stage. The limited engagement of Occupant will continue through June 29.

Occupant is a portrait of sculptor Louise 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.

Bryggman received Tony Award nominations for his work in the Broadway productions of Proof and Picnic. Other Broadway credits include Festen, 12 Angry Men, Prelude to a Kiss, Richard III and The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel. His off-Broadway credits include King Lear, Romance, The Cherry Orchard, As You Like It, Henry IV Parts I and II, Macbeth, Prelude and Liebstod and Coriolanus. On television he won two Best Actor Emmy Awards for his role as Dr. John Dixon in As the World Turns and has appeared in the films Spy Game, Die Hard With a Vengeance, Hanky Panky, And Justice for All, Looking for Richard and Side by Each.

Sets for Occupant will be designed by Christine Jones, with costumes by Jane Greenwood and lights by David Lander.