Bluebird to star Simon Russell Beale

Tony Award nominee Simon Russell Beale (Jumpers) will star in the Atlantic Theater Company's US premiere of Simon Stephen's Bluebird, directed by Gaye Taylor Upchurch.

Bluebird: Jimmy MacNeill (Beale) is a London taxi driver who seems to draw personal stories and confessions from his passengers without even trying. With each new 'fare', the truth of Jimmy's own life and secret burdens unfurls.

Additional casting, creative team and schedule information will be announced shortly.

Bluebird opens at Atlantic Stage 2 on 22 Aug 2011, following previews from 9 Aug 2011, where it will play a limited engagement through to 9 Sep 2011.

Simon Russell Beale returns to the New York stage following starring on Broadway in 'Spamalot' and as 'George' in Tom Stoppard's 'Jumpers,' for which he received a Tony nomination. Beale is a highly respected British actor, notable performances on the London stage include 'Candide' and 'Uncle Vanya,' for which he won Laurence Oliviers Awards.

Atlantic founding member Mary McCann recently completed the pilot "Vital Signs," directed by Jonathan Demme. She appeared in the original casts of the world premieres of Ethan Coen's 'Almost an Evening' and 'Offices' and starred in Annie Baker's world premiere play 'Body Awareness' at Atlantic. Since appearing in Lincoln Center's 'When the Rain Stops Falling,' company member Kate Blumberg returns to Atlantic, where she also appeared in 'Almost an Evening' and the world premiere of Beau Willimon's 'Farragut North.'

Tobias Segal makes his Atlantic stage debut after appearing on Broadway last season in 'The Miracle Worker.'

Company member Todd Weeks has recently appeared on the Atlantic stage in David Mamet's 'Keep your Pantheon,' 'Romance,' the world premiere of Lucy Thurber's 'Scarcity' and the critically acclaimed production of' The Voysey Inheritance.'

Acclaimed British playwright Simon Stephens makes his New York and Atlantic debut with the U.S. premiere of Bluebird, which was originally produced at the Royal Court in London. His plays include the Olivier Award winning 'On the Shore of the Wide World,' 'Herons,' 'Port,' 'One Minute,' 'Christmas' and 'Country Music' among many produced throughout the UK. He is the Artistic Associate at the Lyric, Hammersmith in London.

Director Gaye Taylor Upchurch makes her Atlantic Theater Company debut. She recently staged Naomi Iizuka's 'Language of Angels' for Lincoln Center Theater Institute and Patrick Huguenin's 'Paper Dolls' for the New York Fringe Festival, which received an Outstanding Ensemble Award. She is currently working with Sam Mendes on the upcoming Bridge Project production of 'Richard III' starring Kevin Spacey.