Act One: Santino Fontana and Tony Shalhoub to star

Lincoln Center Theater has announced that Santino Fontana and Tony Shalhoub will star as playwright/director 'Moss Hart' at different stages of his life in its upcoming production of James Lapine's stage adaptation of Moss Hart's autobiography Act One, opening at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre on 17 Apr 2014, following previews from 20 Mar 2014, and closing on 15 Jun 2014.

Furthr casting is still to be announced.

Act One, both written and directed by three-time Tony Award-winner James Lapine, chronicles Moss Hart's impoverished childhood and his determined struggle to escape poverty and forge a career in the theater. A path which led to his collaboration with George S. Kaufman and their first great success, 'Once In A Lifetime.'

Santino Fontana, currently starring as the 'Prince' in the Broadway musical 'Cinderella,' was previously seen off-Broadway in 'The Sons of the Prophet' and on Broadway in 'The Importance of Being Earnest,' 'Brighton Beach Memoirs,' 'Billy Elliot' and 'Sunday in the Park with George.'

Tony Shalhoub returns to Lincoln Center Theater after appearing last year in LCT's production of Clifford Odets' 'Golden Boy,' for which he was nominated for a Tony Award. His Broadway credits include 'Lend Me A Tenor,' 'Conversations With My Father' (Tony nomination), 'The Heidi Chronicles' and the female version of 'The Odd Couple.' He is best known for his Prime Time Emmy Award winning role as ' Adrian Monk' in the comedy drama deries 'Monk' and for starring as 'Antonio Scarpacci' in the sitcom 'Wings.'

The creative team for Act One features sets by Beowolf Boritt, costumes by Jane Greenwood, lighting by Ken Billington and musical sound by Daniel Moses Schrier.

James Lapine's (Writer/director) Broadway credits include 'Annie,' 'Sondheim on Sondheim,' 'Sunday in the Park with George' (2008 revival), 'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee' (Tony-nomination for Director), 'Amour,' 'Into the Woods' (2002 revival - Tony-nomination for Director), 'Dirty Blonde' (Tony-nomination for Director), 'Golden Child,' 'The Diary of Anne Frank,' 'Passion' (Tony Award for Best Book, Tony-nomination for Director), 'Falsetto' (Tony Award for Best Book, Tony-nomination for Director), 'Into the Woods' (Tony Award for Best Book, Tony-nomination for Director) and 'Sunday in the Park with George' (Tony-nominations for Best Book and Director).