Kin: Playwright Horizons announces cast

Playwrights Horizons has announced athe full cast for the World Premiere of Kin, a new play by Bathsheba Doran, opening at Playwrights Horizons' Mainstage on 21 Mar 2011, following previews from 25 Feb, and running through to 3 Apr 2011.

Directed by Obie Award winner Sam Gold (Annie Baker's 'Circle Mirror Transformation' at Playwrights Horizons and 'The Aliens' at Rattlestick), the cast will feature Suzanne Bertish, Bill Buell, Kristen Elizabeth Bush, Patch Darragh, Laura Heisler, Matthew Rauch, Cotter Smith, Concetta Tomei and Molly Ward.

It was announced in Jun 2010 that Lily Rabe would play the lead role of 'Anna,' however, due to her ongoing committment to the Broadway run of 'The Merchant of Venice,' which recently extended its run, the role of Anna will now be played by Kristen Elizabeth Bush.

In Kin, 'Anna,' a Texan Ivy League poetry scholar, and 'Sean,' an Irish personal trainer, hardly seem destined for one another. But as their web of disparate family and friends crosses great distances - both psychologically and geographically - an unlikely new family is forged.

The creative team features set design by Paul Steinberg, costume design by David Zinn, lighting design by Jane Cox and sound design by Matt Tierney.

Bios:

Bathsheba Doran's (Playwright) plays include 'Parents' Evening' (Flea Theater), 'Living Room in Africa' (Off-Broadway for Edge Theater), 'Nest' (commissioned and produced by Signature Theater DC), 'Until Morning' (BBC Radio 4), adaptations of 'The Blind,' 'Peer Gynt' and 'Dickens' Great Expectations),' and her play for young audiences, 'Ben and The Magic Paintbrush' (South Coast Rep). She is a recipient of the Helen Merrill Playwriting Award, three Lecomte du Nouy Lincoln Center playwriting awards, a Cherry Lane Mentor Project Fellow and a Susan Blackburn Award finalist.

Sam Gold (Director) won an Obie Award for his direction of Annie Baker's critically-acclaimed productions of 'Circle Mirror Transformation' at Playwrights Horizons and 'The Aliens' at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater.

Suzanne Bertish (Linda) most recently played the title role in 'Mrs. Warren's Profession' at the McCarter Theatre and 'Cleopatra' in 'Antony and Cleopatra' for the Harman Center for the Arts, Washington DC. Broadway: 'Salome,' 'The Molière Comedies' (Tony nomination), 'The Life and Times of Nicholas Nickleby.' New York: 'Measure for Pleasure' (Public Theater), 'The Memory of Water,' 'Art of Success' and 'Skirmishes' (MTC).

Bill Buell (Max). Playwrights Horizons: 'On the Bum.' Broadway includes 'Equus,' 'The History Boys,' 'Inherit the Wind,' 'Urinetown,' '42nd Street,' 'Titanic,' 'Tommy,' 'Taking Steps,' 'Big River' and 'Annie.' Off-Broadway includes 'The Fourth Sister,' 'Eight Days Backwards' 'Andorra, Waste,' 'Bad Habits,' 'Aristocrats,' 'Queens Boulevard,' 'Picasso at the Lapine Agile' and 'The Common Pursuit.'

Kristen Elizabeth Bush (Anna). Broadway:' A Touch of the Poet' (Roundabout). Off-Broadway: 'Photograph 5'1 (Ensemble Studio Theatre), 'King Lear' (The Public), 'As You Like It' (The Public/NYSF), 'Great Expectations' (Lucille Lortel).

Patch Darragh (Sean). Broadway: 'Our Town.' Off-Broadway: 'Crimes of the Heart,' 'The Glass Menagerie' (Roundabout), 'Spin' (Cherry Lane), 'All That I Will Ever Be' (NYTW).

Laura Heisler (Helena). Playwrights Horizons 'Doris to Darlene' and 'People Be Heard.' Broadway: 'Coram Boy.' Other Off-Broadway credits: 'The Mistakes Madeline Made' and 'A Mother, A Daughter, and A Gun.'

Matthew Rauch (Simon/Gideon). Broadway: 'The Merchant of Venice' and 'Prelude to a Kiss.' Off-Broadway: 'The Winter's Tale,' 'The Merchant of Venice,' 'The Duchess of Malfi,' 'Still Life,' 'Expats,' The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie,' 'Hurlyburly' and 'Book of Days.'

Cotter Smith (Adam). Broadway: 'Next Fall' and 'An American Daughter.' Off-Broadway: 'Next Fall,' 'How I Learned to Drive,' 'El Salvador,' 'Empty Hearts,' 'Walking the Dead,' 'The Blood Knot' and 'A Soldier's Play.'

Concetta Tomei (Kay). Broadway: 'The Elephant Man,' 'Noises Off,' 'Goodbye Fidel' and 'Cyrano de Bergerac.' Off-Broadway 'In the Daylight,' 'The Clean House,' 'The Normal Heart,' 'Fen,' 'A Private View,' 'King Richard III,' 'Cloud 9' and 'Little Eyolf.'

Molly Ward (Rachel). Recent work: American Repertory Theater's 'The Seagull,' 'Romeo & Juliet' and 'Three Sisters' (Elliot Norton nomination; Edinburgh International Festival); 'Our House' (Denver Center); 'Camille' (Bard Summerscape); 'Othello' (Hartford Stage).