Holland Taylor replaces Mary Louise Wilson in Ripcord

The Manhattan Theatre Club has announced additional casting for the world premiere of David Lindsay-Abaire's new comedy Ripcord, beginning previews at New York City Center's Stage I on 29 September 2015, with an official opening set for 20 October.

Joining previously announced Marylouise Burke (Marilyn) will be Emmy Award winner and Tony nominee Holland Taylor (Abby), as well as Rachel Dratch (Colleen) and Glenn Fitzgerald (Benjamin). Further casting will be announced shortly.

Ms Taylor will replace previously announced Tony Award winner Mary Louise Wilson, who has withdrawn due to the extension of her book tour for her new memoir.

The creative team for Ripcord has also been announced and features scenic design by Alexander Dodge, lighting design by Peter Kaczorowski, costume design by Jennifer von Mayrhauser, original music and sound design by John Gromada, and fight direction by Thomas Schall.

Directed by Tony and Emmy Award winner David Hyde Pierce, the play is "a high-stakes comedy about two women of a certain age locked in a no-holds-barred battle to the death."

Synopsis: "A sunny room on an upper floor is prime real estate in the Bristol Place Assisted Living Facility, so when the cantankerous Abby (Wilson) is forced to share her quarters with new-arrival Marilyn (Burke), she has no choice but to get rid of the infuriatingly chipper woman by any means necessary. A seemingly harmless bet between the old women quickly escalates into a dangerous game of one-upmanship that reveals not just the tenacity of these worthy opponents, but also deeper truths that each would rather remain hidden."

Holland Taylor was nominated for a Tony Award in 2013 for 'Ann,' which she also wrote. Other Broadway credits include 'Moose Murders,' 'Something Old, Something New,' 'Murder Among Friends,' 'We Interrupt This Program...' and 'Butley.' She won an Emmy Award for "The Practice" in 1999 and received four Emmy nominations for "Two and a Half Men." Other screen credits include "The Truman Show," "All My Children," and "Legally Blonde."

Marylouise Burke has appeared on Broadway as Madame Caron in 'Is He Dead?,' Jack's Mother in 'Into The Woods,' and Mrs. Krebs in 'Inherit the Wind.' Her many off-Broadway credits include 'Rx,' 'Love, Loss, and What I Wore,' 'The Savannah Disputation,' 'Wintertime,' 'Kimberly Akimbo,' 'Wonder of the World,' 'Casanova,' and 'Fuddy Meers,' for which she won a Drama Desk Award in 2000. Her screen credits include 'Sideways,' 'A Prairie Home Companion,' and 'Meet Joe Black.'

- by Tom Millward