Mourning Becomes Electra at the Acorn Theatre

The New Group presents Eugene O�Neill�s epic drama Mourning Becomes Electra as the second production in its 2008-2009 season.

Directed by Scott Elliott, Mourning Becomes Electra opens at Theatre Row's Acorn Theatre on 19 Feb 2009, following previews from 27 Jan for a limited engagement running through to 18 Apr 2009.

Directed by Scott Elliott, the production stars Lili Taylor as Christine Mannon, Jena Malone as Lavinia Mannon, Joseph Cross as Orin Mannon, Anson Mount as Brant, Mark Blum as Ezra Mannon and Robert Hogan as Seth.

The cast also features Phoebe Strole, Patrick Mapel, Carolyn Baeumler, Therese Barbato, Geoffrey Bryant, Susan Goodwillie, Mycah Hogan, Sean Meehan and John Wojda.

Mourning Becomes Electra: Jealously, revenge, lust and longing are at the core of this retelling of the Greek myth of Orestes. When General Ezra Mannon and his son Orin return home following years of fighting in the Civil War, they find their family in strife and the home they�ve been pining for torn apart. Matriarch Christine is engaged in a battle of schemes with her daughter Lavina, whose loyalty to her father drives her to protect him at any cost, while a web of secrets, deception and unsavory actions threaten to consume the family.

The creative team features set design by Derek McLane, costumes by Susan Hilferty, lighting by Jason Lyons and sound by Shane Rettig.

Mourning Becomes Electra features original music by international jazz virtuoso Pat Metheny, whose work has earned him 17 Grammy Awards across numerous categories including Best Rock Instrumental, Best Contemporary Jazz Recording, Best Jazz Instrumental Solo, and Best Instrumental Composition.

Mourning Becomes Electra premiered on Broadway in the midst of the Great Depression at the Guild Theatre in October 1931, where it enjoyed a successful run into the following year.

Most recently, Scott Elliott directed the acclaimed U.S. premiere of Ayub Khan-Din�s 'Rafta, Rafta' at The New Group, where he is Artistic Director. In recent seasons at The New Group, he helmed Mike Leigh�s 'Two Thousand Years' as well as the revivals of 'The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie,' Wallace Shawn�s 'The Fever,' Leigh�s 'Abigail�s Party,' Shawn�s 'Aunt Dan and Lemon' and David Rabe�s 'Hurlyburly.'

Elliott's Broadway directional credits include the musical 'Avenue Q ' as wellas 'The Threepenny Opera' (2006 revival), 'Barefoot in the Park' (2006 revival), 'The Women' (2001 revival), 'Three Sisters' (1997 revival) and 'Present Laughter' (1996 revival).

One of the most prolific dramatists of the 20th Century, Eugene O�Neill is the only American playwright to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature (1936). O�Neill�s first Broadway production 'Beyond the Horizon' impressed critics with its tragic realism and won O�Neill his first of four Pulitzer Prizes in Drama (with others following for Anna Christie, Strange Interlude and Long Day�s Journey Into Night, which was produced posthumously).

Lili Taylor (Christine Mannon) as appeared on Broadway in 'The Three Sisters' (Irina: 1997 revival) and in Special Benefit productions of 'The 24 Hour Plays 2004' and 'The 24 Hour Plays 2007'. She has appeared in The New Group's production of 'Aunt Dan and Lemon.' She last appeared off-Broadway in 'an oak tree' at Barrow Street Theatre.

Jena Malone (Lavinia Mannon) made her Broadway debut in 'Doubt' (Sister James - replacement: 2005).

Joseph Cross' (Orin Mannon) thatre credits include Williamstown Theater Festival: 'Landscape of The Body.'

Anson Mount (Brant) off-Broadway credits include 'Elle' (Zipper Theatre), 'Corpus Christi' for the Manhattan Theatre Club, and multiple roles in a Public Theater production of 'Cymbeline' (Delacorte).

Mark Blum's (Ezra Mannon) Broadway credits are 'The Merchant' (multiple roles: 1977), 'Lost in Yonkers' (Eddie: 1991), 'My Thing Of Love' (Garn: 1995), 'Gore Vidal's The Best Man' (Dick Jensen: 2000), 'A Thousand Clowns' (Leo Herman: 2001 revival), 'The Graduate' (Mr. Braddock - replacement: 2002) and 'Twelve Angry Men' (Juror #1: revival). He won an OBIE Award for his performance as 'Al' in Playwright Horizons off0Broadway production of 'Gus and Al'. He last appeared off-Broadway in Primary Stages production of 'Buffalo Gal.'

Robert Hogan's (Seth) Broadway credits are 'A Few Good Men' (Capt. Matthew A. Markinson: 1989) and 'Hamlet' (multiple : 1992 revival). He last appeared off-Broadway in The New Group's production of 'The Accomplices.' He won the 1998 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play for his performance as 'Darrow' in the American Jewish Theatre's production of 'Never the Sinner.'