Casa Valentina: MTC announces complete cast


Manhattan Theatre Club have announced the complete cast for their world premiere of Casa Valentina, written by four-time Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein and directed by two-time Tony Award winner Joe Mantello.

As previously reported by the New York Post, the cast will feature Broadway veteran Patrick Page (George/Valentina) and two-time Tony Award winner John Cullum (Terrence/Terry), they are joined by Reed Birney (Isadore/Charlotte), Tony Award winner Gabriel Ebert (Jonathon/Miranda), Lisa Emery (Eleanor), Tony Award nominee Tom McGowan (Albert/Bessie), Larry Pine (Judge/Amy), Nick Westrate (Michael/Gloria) and Emmy Award winner and Oscar nominee Mare Winningham (Rita).

The limited engagement of Casa Valentina will open at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on 23 Apr 2014, following previews from 01 Apr 2014, and will play through to 15 Jun 2014.

Casa Valentina is multiple Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein's ('Kinky Boots,' 'Newsies,' 'La Cage aux Folles,' 'Torch Song Trilogy') first play in thirty years.

Casa Valentina: Back in 1962, most men went to the Catskill Mountains to escape the summer heat, but others took the two-hour drive to escape something else entirely: being men. Nestled in the land of dirty dancing and borscht belt comedy sat an inconspicuous bungalow colony that catered to a very special clientele: heterosexual men whose favorite pastime was dressing and acting as women. It was paradise for these men-white-collar professionals with families-to spend their weekends discreetly and safely inhabiting their chosen female alter egos. But when faced with the opportunity to become an official organization, these "self-made women" had to decide whether public recognition would help them gain a place in open society or spell their own personal disaster.

The play, based on actual events, offers a glimpse into the lives of a group of unforgettable characters as they search for acceptance and happiness in their very own Garden of Eden.

Harvey Fierstein recently said of the play,

All the guys who went up there were heterosexual transvestites. One of the interesting facts I found is that in 1975, the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality and homosexuals who cross-dress from its list of maladies. But heterosexual transvestism is still listed as a malady. It's almost as if they're saying, 'We don't expect any better of you homosexuals, but you heterosexuals should know better!'
The creative team features sets by Scott Pask, costumes by Rita Ryack, lighting by Justin Townsend and sound by Fitz Patton.

The play is being produced by Manhattan Theatre Club by special arrangement with Colin Callender, Robert Cole, Frederick Zollo and The Shubert Organization.

Bios:

Reed Birney (Isadore/Charlotte) as previously appeared on Broadway in 'Picnic' and 'Gemini.' His many Off-Broadway credits include 'Taking Care of Baby,' 'Circle Mirror Transformation' and 'The Savannah Disputation.' On TV he has starred in the TV series "Kings," "Gossip Girl" and "Michael Stahl-David: Behind the Star."

John Cullum's Broadway credits include 'The Scottsboro Boys,' 'August: Osage County,' ''110 in the Shade' (Tony nomination), 'Urinetown' (Tony nomination), 'On the Twentieth Century' (Tony Award), 'Shenandoah' (Tony Award) and 'On a Clear Day You Can See Forever' (Tony nomination). Notable TV work includes "The Middle," "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," "ER," "To Have & to Hold" and "Northern Exposure" (Prime-Time Emmy nomination).

Gabriel Ebert (Jonathon/Miranda) won a Tony Award for his role as 'Mr. Wormwood' in 'Matilda the Musical.' He has also appeared on Broadway in 'Brief Encounter' and 'Red.' Ebert won a 2012 Obie Award for his role as 'Leo' in the Off-Broadway production of '4000 Miles.'

Lisa Emery's (Eleanor) Broadway credits include 'Relatively Speaking,' 'The Smell of the Kill,' 'The Women,' 'Jackie,' 'Present Laughter,' 'Rumors,' 'Burn This' and 'Passion.' Off-Broadway she has been nominated for Lucille Lortel Awards for her appearances in 'Distracted,' 'Abigail's Party' and 'Iron.'

Tom McGowan (Albert/Bessie) was nominated for a Tony Award for his role as 'Valere' in 'La Bête.' His other Broadway credits 'Wicked,' 'Ivanov,' 'Chicago' and 'La Bête.' Off-Broadway he won a Obie Award for his role as 'Otto' in 'The Food Chain.' For his TV work he will be known to many as "Kenny Daly" for the sitcom "Frasier." Other notable TV work includes "The War at Home," "Everybody Loves Raymond," "Monty" and "Down the Shore."

Patrick Page (George/Valentina) recently starred on Broadway as 'Rufus R. Buckley,' in 'A Time to Kill.' His other Broadway credits include 'Cyrano de Bergerac,' 'Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark,' 'A Man for All Seasons,' 'Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!,' 'Julius Caesar,' 'The Lion King,' 'Beauty and the Beast' and 'The Kentucky Cycle.'

Larry Pine's (Judge/Amy) Broadwy credits include 'The Royal Family,' 'Bus Stop,' 'Angels in America: Perestroika,' 'Angels in America: Millennium Approaches,' 'End of the World' and 'Cyrano de Bergerac.' His mny Off-Broadway credits include 'The Designated Mourner,' 'The Shanghai Gesture,' 'A Spanish Play' and 'Stuff Happens.' Pine's TV credits include "Hostages" and "House of Cards."

Nick Westrate (Michael/Gloria) his making hs Broadway debut, he had previously understudied the roles of 'Mike Hogan' and 'T. Stedman Harder' in the 2007 revival of 'A Moon for the Misbegotten.' His Off-Broadway credits include 'Loot,' 'Tribes,' 'Galileo,' 'Love's Labor's Lost,' 'Unnatural Acts' and 'The Little Foxes.'

Mare Winningham (Rita) has previously appeared on Broadway as 'Flo Owens' in the 2013 revival of 'Picnic.' She was nominated for a 1996 Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for portraying "Georgia Flood" in "Georgia," qad has won Two Prime Time Emmy Awards for "George Wallace" and "Amber Waves." Other notable TV work includes "Hatfields & McCoys," "Mildred Pierce," "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," "The Boys Next Door" and "Love Is Never Silent." She recently starred as "Mary" in the movie "Philomena."

Originally published on

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