JoBeth Williams to Headline the Atlantic's Body Awareness

JoBeth Williams is set to headline the Atlantic Theater Company's world premiere of Annie Baker's Body Awareness. The production, directed by Karen Kohlhaas, will also feature Jonathan Clem, Peter Friedman and Mary McCann. It will begin previews on May 28 and open on June 4.

In the comedy, it is "Body Awareness Week" at bucolic Shirley State College in Vermont and all must go according to plan. But when photographer Frank Bonitatibus shows up with his passel of photographs of naked women, things start to go awry.

Oscar nominee Williams, best known for her roles in films such as Poltergeist, Fever Pitch, The Big Chill and Kramer vs. Kramer, has appeared off-Broadway in Last Dance, Moonchildren, Ladyhouse Blues, Gardenia and The Vagina Monolgues. Most recently, she starred in The Quality of Life at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, for which she received a Back Stage West Garland Award.

Body Awareness marks Clem's professional debut following his graduation from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts this year, where he studied at the Atlantic Theater Company Acting School. Friedman was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance in Ragtime. He most recently appeared in the off-Broadway musical The Slug Bearers of Kayrol Island and on Broadway in the acclaimed revival of Twelve Angry Men. Atlantic founding member McCann comes direct from the world premiere production of Ethan Coen's Almost an Evening, which played at Atlantic Stage 2 prior to its Off-Broadway transfer. She also appeared in the world premiere of Spring Awakening, The Cherry Orchard and The Night Heron.

Body Awareness will feature scenic design by Walt Spangler, costume design by Bobby Frederick Tilley III and sound design by Anthony Gabriele.

This limited engagement will run through June 22 at the Atlantic's Stage 2.