Jennifer Westfeldt to Star in A Lifetime Burning at Primary Stages

Tony Award nominee Jennifer Westfeldt (Wonderful Town, TV’s Notes from the Underbelly and Grey’s Anatomy, writer and star of the feature film Kissing Jessica Stein) has signed on to star in Primary Stages’ forthcoming production of A Lifetime Burning. Cusi Cram’s world premiere play will begin performances on July 28 at 59E59 Theaters and open on August 11, directed by Pam MacKinnon. The limited off-Broadway engagement is scheduled to run through September 5.

Joining Westfeldt will be Raul Castillo (Throat, School of the Americas), Isabel Keating (The Boy from Oz, Enchanted April, Hairspray) and Christina Kirk (Well, Oh the Humanity).

In A Lifetime Burning, trust fund darling Emma (Westfeldt) imagines what her life would have been like had she come from a less privileged background. Trouble is, she chronicles her alternate life in a new tell-all “memoir” that was sold for a hefty advance. When Emma is exposed, will her sister, Tess (Kirk), stand by her? Or will Emma’s deceit destroy their already fractured relationship? This dark comedy brings up questions of legacy, loyalty and what it means to belong.

The creative team for A Lifetime Burning includes Kris Stone (set), Theresa Squire (costumes), David Weiner (lights), and Daniel Baker (sound).

Cram’s play opens Primary Stages’ 25th anniversary season, dedicated to new works celebrating the female playwright. It will be followed by the New York premieres of The Night Watcher, written and performed by Charlayne Woodard (September 22-October 31), directed by Daniel Sullivan, and Happy Now? by Lucinda Coxon (January 26-March 10, 2010), directed by Liz Dimond.