Every day is opening night.

Contact:
Rick Miramontez / Jon Dimond / Jaron Caldwell
rick@oandmco.com / jon@oandmco.com / jaron@oandmco.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PLEASE

New York, NY – MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) today announced that David Auburn (author of the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning Broadway smash Proof) will direct the third and final production of the company’s 25th Anniversary Season, Side Effects by Michael Weller. This world premiere production begins performances at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC) on May 12, 2011 and continues through June 26, 2011. An official opening night is set for Tuesday, May 31, 2011. Casting and other news will be forthcoming.

“We are thrilled to have David directing this play for MCC,” commented Artistic Director Bernard Telsey. “He has a wonderful insight into storytelling and the essential nuances of character, as you see in his own plays. His recent directing projects have been truly exciting and we’ve been eager to work with David for some time. This is going to be a great collaboration between playwright and director.”

MCC Theater’s acclaimed 2008 hit Fifty Words (which starred Norbert Leo Butz and Elizabeth Marvel) culminated in one desperate phone call. Side Effects is the story of what happened on the other end of the line. This harrowing and unique journey is expertly plotted by playwright Michael Weller, noted for Loose Ends and Moonchildren, a seminal work for the American stage. Hugh and Lindy's marriage seems picture-perfect, a beacon in their microcosmic Midwestern world of dinner parties and fundraisers. Behind closed doors they’re falling apart – doors they can barely keep shut. Lindy’s grappling with bipolar swings, their teenage sons are acting out, and Hugh’s rising political star is suddenly imperiled.

MCC’s season is in full swing as previews continue for the world premiere of Neil LaBute’s The Break of Noon. The production features actors Tracee Chimo, David Duchovny, John Earl Jelks and Amanda Peet under the direction of Jo Bonney, The Break of Noon is a co-production with the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles (Gil Cates, Producing Director; Randall Arney, Artistic Director; Ken Novice, Managing Director). An official opening night is set for Monday, November 22, 2010.

For more information on MCC Theater, visit www.mcctheater.org.

Bios
David Auburn’s recent directing credits include A Delicate Balance (Berkshire Theatre Festival), Zayd Dohrn's Sick (BTF) and work at The Juilliard School and Lincoln Center Director's Lab. Plays include Proof (MTC/Broadway), An Upset and Amateurs (EST Marathon) and The Journals of Mihail Sebastian (Keen Co.). Films include The Girl in the Park (writer/director).

MCC Theater is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary season as one of New York City's leading Off Broadway theater companies, committed to presenting New York and world premieres each season. When MCC Theater was founded in 1986, its mission was simple: to bring new theatrical voices to theater-going audiences. MCC Theater continues to accomplish this yearly through three programmatic areas: its mainstage works; its Playwrights’ Coalition, which actively seeks and develops new and emerging writers; and its Education & Outreach Programs, including the Youth Company, which allow more than 1,200 students yearly to experience theater, increase literacy and discover their own voices through the creation of original theater pieces. Notable MCC Theater highlights include: the 2008 Tony Award-nominated reasons to be pretty by Neil LaBute, last season’s The Pride, Fifty Words, the 2004 Tony-winning production of Bryony Lavery’s Frozen; Neil LaBute’s Fat Pig; Rebecca Gilman’s The Glory of Living; Marsha Norman’s Trudy Blue; Margaret Edson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Wit; Tim Blake Nelson’s The Grey Zone and Alan Bowne’s Beirut. Over the years, the dedication to the work of new and emerging artists has earned MCC Theater a variety of awards. For a complete production history, visit www.mcctheater.org.

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