Kathleen Turner steps in to direct at New World Stages

Academy Award nominee, Golden Globe winner and Tony nominee Kathleen Turner will now not only star in, but has also stepped in to direct the world premiere of Would You Still Love Me If..., written by John S. Anastasi, which begins previews at New World Stages on 26 September 2015, before an official opening on 10 October.

Turner replaces previously announced director Nona Gerard.

Grammy nominee Deborah Cox has also had to withdraw from the production due to scheduling issues and has been replaced by Roya Shanks.

The full cast includes Kathleen Turner, Roya Shanks, Rebecca Brooksher and Sofia Jean Gomez.

Synopsis: Would You Still Love Me If... is "a love story that tackles the issue of transgender identity. It is the story of Danya and Addison, caring intelligent young women with a promising future and a baby on the way, but there's a lifelong secret that threatens to destroy all they hold dear - prompting the profound question... 'Why do we love who we love?'"

The creative team features scenic design by Brian Prather, lighting design by Zach Blane, costume design by Tristan Raines, sound design by Jeremy Oleksa and original music by David Friedman.

Would You Still Love Me If... is produced off-Broadway by 22Q Entertainment.

Kathleen Turner has previously appeared on Broadway in 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' (1990) and 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?' (2005), earning two Tony Award nominations. Other Broadway credits include 'High,' 'The Graduate,' and 'Indiscretions.' Her off-Broadway credits include 'The Third Story,' 'Crimes of the Heart,' 'The Exonerated,' and 'Love Letters.' She is well known for her work on film including 'Romancing the Stone,' 'Peggy Sue Got Married,' 'The War of the Roses,' 'Prizzi's Honor,' 'Body Heat,' and 'The Virgin Suicides,' amongst many others.

- by Tom Millward