Roundabout 12/13 season: 3 plays announced

The Roundabout Theatre Company have announced three of the productions which will form part of their upcoming 2011-2012 theatrical season: A Broadway revival of the musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood; a Broadway revival of Picnic, and an Off-Broadway world premiere production of The Unavoidable Disappearance of Tom Durnin.

Broadway: Studio 54

The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Book, Music & Lyrics: Rupert Holmes
Director: Scott Ellis
Musical Direction: Paul Gemignani
Synopsis: Take a trip back in time to a Victorian music hall where a rowdy ensemble of actors mounts a staging of Charles Dickens' unfinished novel. Everyone on stage is a suspect in the murder of young Edwin Drood—and it's up to you to choose the killer! Is it John Jasper, Edwin's protective but slightly maniacal uncle? Rosa Bud, his reluctant betrothed? The debauched Princess Puffer? Each performance ends differently, depending on what the audience decides!
Cast: Chita Rivera (Princess Puffer)
Expected: Fall 2012

Chita Rivera (Princess Puffer) has won two Tony Awards (Kiss of the Spider Woman; The Rink) and received seven additional Tony nominations including one for her performance as 'Liliane La Fleur' in Roundabout's Tony Award winning musical 'Nine.' Rivera created the role of 'Velma Kelly' in the original Broadway production of 'Chicago' opposite Gwen Verdon (1975) and appears in the film version. Career highlights on Broadway include starring roles in 'Bye Bye Birdie,' 'Guys and Dolls,' 'Can-Can,' 'Seventh Heaven and' 'Mr. Wonderful.

Rupert Holmes won three 1986 Tony Awards for his musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood: Best Book; Best Score; and Best Lyrics. His other Broadway credits include: Curtains (2007: Two Tony nominations); Say Goodnight Gracie (Tony nomination); Solitary Confinement; Scott Ellis (Director) directed Roundabout's Tony nominated Broadway production and subsequent two-year national tour of 'Twelve Angry Men.' Ellis' other Broadway credits at Roundabout include: The Man Who Had All the Luck; The Rainmaker; 1776; She Loves Me; and Company. Additional Roundabout credits include: Streamers; Entertaining Mr. Sloane; and The Understudy.

Artistic Director Todd Haimes said, "With The Mystery of Edwin Drood, we have our first revival of a musical since opening 'Anything Goes.' I've always found it fascinating that Rupert Holmes managed to turn an unfinished Dickens novel into a musical, let alone a highly entertaining one with a great score. It's an intriguing idea that led to a wonderfully offbeat show that gets the whole audience involved. And to be welcoming back our dear friend Chita Rivera is just the icing on the cake for this delightfully odd musical."

Broadway: American Airlines Theatre

Pininc
Playwright: William Inge
Director: Sam Gold
Synopsis: It's a balmy Labor Day in the American Heartland, and a group of women are preparing for a picnic... but they'll have to lay a lot on the line before they can lay out the checkered cloths. When a handsome young drifter named Hal arrives, his combination of uncouth manners and titillating charm sends the women reeling, especially the beautiful Madge. When Hal is forced out of town, Madge must decide whether their fleeting encounter is worth changing the course of her life.
Cast: tba
Expected: Winter 2013

William Inge's (Playwright) was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for his play, Pininc. His other plays produced on Broadway are: Come Back, Little Sheba; Bus Stop (Tony nomination); Summer Brave; Where's Daddy?; Natural Affection; A Loss of Roses and The Dark at the Top of the Stairs (Tony nomination).

Scott Ellis (Director) directed Roundabout's Tony nominated Broadway production and subsequent two-year national tour of 'Twelve Angry Men.' Ellis' other Broadway credits at Roundabout include: The Man Who Had All the Luck; The Rainmaker; 1776; She Loves Me; and Company. Additional Roundabout credits include: Streamers; Entertaining Mr. Sloane; and The Understudy.

Artistic Director Todd Haimes said, "Doing a new production of Pininc, .., goes back to the more classic revival roots we have at Roundabout. It's a play that I absolutely adore, and I'm thrilled to have Associate Artist Sam Gold back to bring his vision for Inge's masterpiece to the stage."

Off-Broadway: Laura Pels Theatre

World Premiere
The Unavoidable Disappearance of Tom Durnin
Playwright: Steven Levenson
Director: Scott Ellis
Synopsis: Tom Durnin did the time for his white-collar crime. He's determined to win back the respect and position he believes he deserves. Tom's son warily allows his father to camp out on his couch, hoping the man who let everyone down has finally turned a new page. After a lifetime of empty promises, can Tom find a place in a family that has worked so hard to move on without him?
Cast: tba
Expected: 2012/2013

Steven Levenson's 'The Language of Trees' was produced at the Roundabout's Black Box Theater. His other plays include: Missed Connections; Retreat; Seven Minutes in Heaven; and Torah! Torah! Torah!

Scott Ellis (Director) directed Roundabout's Tony nominated Broadway production and subsequent two-year national tour of 'Twelve Angry Men.' Ellis' other Broadway credits at Roundabout include: The Man Who Had All the Luck; The Rainmaker; 1776; She Loves Me; and Company. Additional Roundabout credits include: Streamers; Entertaining Mr. Sloane; and The Understudy.

Artistic Director Todd Haimes said, "This is a smart and timely new American drama, written by Steven Levenson, who received his New York debut in the Roundabout Underground only a few years ago. Roundabout commissioned this play from Steven, and I am so happy that this production will continue our commitment to the ongoing careers of emerging playwrights as they 'graduate' from the Black Box to the Laura Pels Theatre"

Additional cast members and design teams for the productions, as well as the season's additional offerings, will be announced shortly.