Gabriel, by Moira Buffini, at the Atlantic Theater
Atlantic Theater Company have announced full production details for the American premiere of Olivier Award nominee Moira Buffini's award-winning play Gabriel, which will mark the final main stage production of Atlantic's 2009-2010 season.
Directed by David Esbjornson (The Ride Down Mt. Morgan), Gabriel will feature Patricia Conolly (Broadway's The Coast of Utopia), Lisa Emery (Off-Broadway's Distracted), Tony Award nominee Zach Grenier (Broadway's 33 Variations), Lee Aaron Rosen (Summer Play Festival's Wet), Samantha Soule (Broadway's The Philanthropist) and Libby Woodbridge (Off-Broadway debut).
Gabriel opens at the Atlantic's Linda Gross Theater on 13 May 2010, following previews from 23 Apr and will play a limited engagement through to 6 Jun 2010.
Gabriel is set around a largely forgotten moment in British history - the German occupation of the Channel Islands during World War II. A naked young man washes up on a Guernsey beach. Unnervingly handsome and fluent in both German and English, he has no recollection of who he is - patriot or Nazi...innocent or madman. Gabriel explores the heart of memory, identity and imagination, as well as the lies people tell themselves and each other to make the darkness light again.
The creative team for Gabriel will feature scenic design by Riccardo Hernandez, costume design by Martin Pakledinaz, lighting design by Scott Zielinski and sound design by Obadiah Eaves.
David Esbjornson returns to Atlantic where he staged the New York premiere of Peter Parnell's play 'Trumpery.' He directed the Tony Award winning production of Edward Albee's 'The Goat, or Who is Silvia?' and the New York premiere of Israel Horovitz's 'My Old Lady,' Albee's 'The Play About the Baby' and the Tony Award nominated production of 'The Ride Down Mt. Morgan' by Arthur Miller at the Public Theater and on Broadway. He recently directed the Off-Broadway production of 'Hamlet' starring Christian Camargo.
Moira Buffini makes her Atlantic Theater Company and Off-Broadway debut. The 1997 world premiere production of her play Gabriel was awarded the UK's London Weekend Television Plays on Stage Award and the Meyer Whitworth Award. Her play 'Dinner,' commissioned by the National Theatre, was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best New Comedy and was recently staged at The Bay Street Theatre in a production starring Mercedes Ruehl. Her latest screenplay, an adaptation of the UK comic strip 'Tamara Drewe,' will be directed by Stephen Frears and begin shooting this fall.
Patricia Conolly recently appeared on Broadway in 'Is He Dead?' and at Lincoln Center in 'The Coast of Utopia' trilogy. Obie Award winner Lisa Emery was nominated for a 2009 Lortel Award for her role in 'Distracted' Off Broadway last season. Zach Grenier was nominated for a 2009 Tony Award for his performance as 'Beethoven in 33 Variations' on Broadway. Lee Aaron Rosen makes his Off-Broadway debut following appearing in the Fringe Festival production of 'A Contemporary American's Guide to a Successful Marriage' and in 'Wet' at the Summer Play Festival. Samantha Soule returns to Atla/ntic after starring in 'The Voysey Inheritance' and most recently appearing on Broadway in 'The Philanthr.[opist.' A recent graduate of Boston University, Libby Woodbridge will make her New York theatrical debut.
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