Opus, Primary stages announce full cast

Primary Stages launches its 2007-2008 season of new works by American playwrights with the New York premiere of Opus by Michael Hollinger with direction by Terrence J. Nolen, opening at 59E59's Theater A on 7 Aug 2007, following previews from 24 Jul and running through to 1 Sep 2007.

The five-member cast features David Beach as Elliot, Mahira Kakkar as Grace, Michael Laurence as Dorian, Richard Topol as Alan and Doug Rees as Carl.

Opus is a new play about a world-renowned string quartet that is struggling to prepare for their highest-profile performance, when the violist, and founder of the quartet, mysteriously disappears. When a young woman is hired as the replacement, her musical gifts inspire the musicians, and they decide on short notice to abandon their friendly Pachelbel Canon program and to replace it with Beethoven's difficult Opus 131. The rehearsal room becomes a pressure cooker as passions rise, personalities clash, and the musicians are forced to tackle the ephemeral nature of their life's work.

David Beach's Broadway credits: Moon Over Buffalo (1995), Urinetown (2001) and Mamma Mia! (2001). Mahira Kakkar has appeared off-Broadway playing Maryamma in Playwrights Horizons Miss Witherspoon (2005). Michael Laurence is currently making his Brodway debut as Stu Noonan in Talk Radio (closing 24 Jun). Richard Topol's Broadway credits: The School for Scandal (1995 revival), Julius Caesar (2005 revival) and Awake and Sing! (2006 revival). Doug Rees is making his Off-Broadway debut.

Michael Hollinger (Playwright) said about the upcoming production, "I'm delighted with the cast we've assembled for the NewYork premiere of Opus. Ensemble is at the heart of the play, and these actors were carefully chosen both for their individual gifts and for the way these qualities work with and play off of others in the cast."

Terrence J. Nolen (Director) said, "Michael (Hollinger) was trained as a violist. Opus was born from his knowledge of and great love for string quartets and music making. This play gives us a glimpse into a world that few of us know and of human relationships that are all too recognizable."

Terrence J Nolan and Michael Hollinger have collaborated closely over the years, with six of Hollinger's plays (An Empty Plate in the Caf� du Grand Boeuf, Red Herring; Incorruptible; Tiny Island; and Tooth and Claw and Opus) all having their world premiere at Philadelphia's Arden Theatre Company, where he is producing Artistic Director, under Nolan's direction. Nolan was awarded the 2006 Barrymore Award for Outstanding Direction of a Play for his work on Opus.

Michael Hollinger's play "An Empty Plate in the Caf� du Grand Boeuf" had its New York premiere with Primary Stages. "Tooth and Claw" received its New York Premiere at the Ensemble Studio Theatre.

Primary Stages continues its 23rd season with the New York premiere of Dividing The Estate by Horton Foote with direction by Michael Wilson (18 Sep - 27 Oct 2007), followed by the world premiere of a newplay, Hunting and Gathering by Brooke Berman under the direction of Leigh Silverman (22 Jan - 1 Mar 2008). The 2007-2008 season concludes with the New York premiere of Willie Holtzman's play Something You Did (18 Mar - 26 Apr 2008).