MTC announce two new productions

Manhattan Theatre Club (MTC) will launch The Studio at Stage II at New York City Center this fall with the world premiere production of Murder Ballad, a new musical by Julia Jordan and Juliana Nash, directed by Trip Cullman, and the American premiere of MTC's commissioned Choir Boy, a play with music by Tarell Alvin McCraney.

The play series in The Studio at Stage II has been partially underwritten with a major grant from The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust and the project will be known as "The Studio at Stage II - The Harold and Mimi Steinberg New Play Series."

Michael Steinberg, a Steinberg trustee, commented on the gift, "We are pleased to support Manhattan Theatre Club. We applaud MTC's commitment to new work and are proud to name the new play series."

David C. Hodgson, Manhattan Theatre Club Board Chairman, noted, "The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust has been a generous and loyal supporter of MTC for more than two decades and has been instrumental to our success. We are enormously grateful to the trust for its gift to name the new play series at The Studio at Stage II."

In order to ensure that these new works are affordable to the widest possible, most diverse audiences, MTC is pricing all tickets for Murder Ballad and Choir Boy at $30.

Additional ticketing information for The Studio at Stage II will be announced in the coming weeks.

World Premiere
Murder Ballad
Writers: Julia Jordan and Juliana Nash
Director: Trip Cullman
Cast: tba
Synopsis: A love triangle gone wrong, Murder Ballad centers on Sara, an Upper West Sider, who seems to have it all, but whose downtown past lingers enticingly and dangerously in front of her.
Previews: 30 Oct 2012
Opens: 15 Nov 2012
Closes: tba

Casting and additional creative team members will be announced in the coming weeks.

New York Premiere
Choir Boy
Playwright: Tarell Alvin McCraney
Director: tba
Cast: tba
Synopsis: The Charles R. Drew Prep School for Boys is dedicated to the creation of strong, ethical black men. Pharus wants nothing more than to take his rightful place as leader of the school's legendary gospel choir. Can he find his way inside the hallowed halls of this institution if he sings in his own key?
Previews: 18 Jun 2013
Opens: 2 Jul 2013
Closes: tba

Tarell Alvin McCraney is author of The Brother/Sister Trilogy: 'The Brothers Size,' 'In the Red and Brown Water,' and 'Marcus; Or the Secret of Sweet.' His other works include 'Wig Out!' set in New York's drag clubs and 'The Breach' which deals with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. He was the first recipient of the New York Times' Outstanding Playwright Award, the 2009 Steinberg Playwrights Award, and the Paula Vogel Playwriting Award.

Choir Boy was commissioned by MTC with support from Time Warner Inc.

Casting and creative team, will be announced in the coming weeks.