Alexandra Billings, John Ellison Conlee, Johanna Day & more set to star in Manhattan Theatre Club's The Nap

The American premiere of The Nap is set to begin performances at Broadway's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on September 5, 2018.

Manhattan Theatre Club has announced initial casting for the U.S. premiere of The Nap, written by Olivier Award nominee Richard Bean and directed by Tony Award winner Daniel Sullivan, which will now begins previews at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on September 5, 2018 (instead of the previously announced September 4 date) and will officially open on September 27.

"Transparent" star Alexandra Billings will make her Broadway debut as Waxy Bush, alongside Tony Award nominee John Ellison Conlee (as Bobby Spokes), two-time Tony Award nominee Johanna Day (as Stella), four-time and current 2018 United States National Snooker Champion Ahmed Aly Elsayed (as Duncan Ferryman/Danny Carr), Heather Lind (as Eleanor), Max Gordon Moore (as Tony Danlino/MC/Commentator), Bhavesh Patel (as Mohammad Butt), Thomas Jay Ryan (as Danny Killeen), and Ben Schnetzer (as Dylan Spokes). Additional casting will be announced at a later date.

Synopsis: "The Nap is a very funny look at the world of snooker - the British version of pool. Dylan Spokes, a fast-rising young star arrives for a championship tournament only to be confronted by the authorities warning him of the repercussions of match fixing. Before he knows it, Dylan's forced into underhanded dealings with a cast of wildly colorful characters that include his ex-convict dad, saucy mum, quick-tongued manager and a renowned gangster, to boot. It's a fast-paced comedy thriller where, in an exciting twist, the tournament unfolds live on stage."

The creative team behind The Nap has also been announced and features scenic design by David Rockwell, costume design by Kaye Voyce, lighting design by Justin Townsend, sound design by Lindsay Jones, hair & make-up design by Anne Ford-Coates, dialect coach by Ben Furey, and fight direction by Thomas Schall.

Richard Bean is best known for his hit West End and Broadway comedy One Man, Two Guvnors, which starred James Cordon in a Tony Award-winning performance on Broadway in 2012.

^{(Photos courtesy of Boneau/Bryan-Brown)}