The Public announces casting for The Gabriels

The Public Theater has announced complete casting for the upcoming world premiere of a new play cycle collectively called The Gabriels: Election Year in the Life of One Family, written and directed by Richard Nelson, which will perform at the Public's LuEsther Theater throughout 2016 to coincide with the election year.

All three plays will feature the core cast of Meg Gibson (Karin Gabriel), Lynn Hawley (Hannah Gabriel), Roberta Maxwell (Patricia Gabriel), Maryann Plunkett (Mary Gabriel), Jay O. Sanders (George Gabriel) and Amy Warren (Joyce Gabriel).

The first play in the cycle is called Hungry and will begin previews on 27 February 2016, before an official opening on 4 March and a limited run through to 20 March 2016.

Synopsis: "To the rhythm of peeling, chopping and mixing, Hungry places us in the center of the Gabriels' kitchen. The family discusses their lives and disappointments, and the world at large and nearby, as they struggle against the fear of being left behind and the challenge to find resilience in the face of loss."

All three new plays will track the lives of the Gabriels throughout the coming presidential election year, with the second play What Did You Expect? opening in September 2016 and the final play Women of a Certain Age opening in real time on Election Night, November 8, 2016.

The creative team for all three plays features scenic design by Susan Hilferty and Jason Ardizzone-West, costume design by Susan Hilferty, lighting design by Jennifer Tipton and sound design by Scott Lehrer and Will Pickens.

Richard Nelson returns to The Public with 'The Gabriels' after the 2013 run of 'The Apple Family Plays: Scenes from Life in the Country' (That Hopey Changey Thing, Sweet and Sad, Sorry, Regular Singing). As with his previous play cycle, The Gabriels: Election Year in the Life of One Family will feature a core acting company and will open on the day it is set and unfold in real time over a couple of hours.

- by Tom Millward