Our Town: Michael McKean to play The Stage Manager

Michael McKean will assume the role of 'The Stage Manager' in David Cromer's acclaimed production of Thornton Wilder's Our Town, beginning 2 Jun 2010 at the Barrow Street Theatre.

McKean assumes the role from Michael Shannon, who gave his final performance on 23 May 2010. During the interim, Robert Beitzel will fill in as 'The Stage Manager.'

McKean recently starred on Broadway as 'Arthur Przybyszewski' in 'Superior Donuts,' other Broadway credits 'nclude 'The Homecoming,' 'The Pajama Game,' 'Hairspray' and Accomplice. Off-Broadway he starred as 'Phil Wellman' in Woody Allen's 'A Second Hand Memory.' His many film credits include "Whatever Works," "Joshua," "The Producers" amongst many more. McKean, who is also a musician and composer, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Music, Original Song for for the music he co-wrote for the film "A Mighty Wind."

The New York production of Our Town began performances on 17 Feb 2009, with an official opening night on 26 Feb 2009 where it received rave reviews at the downtown venue.

Our Town went on to win the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Production and Outstanding Direction and Obie Award for Outstanding Director. This current staging of Our Town entered its second year on 26 Feb 2010 and is the longest-running production of the play in its 72-year history.

Our Town opened at the Barrow Street Theatre on 26 Feb 2009, following previews from 17 Feb, where it is now booking through to 27 Jun 2010.

The show opened to mostly positive reviews: "modest but highly rewarding" (NY Times); 'riveting new production' (NY Daily News); 'wonderful' (NY Post); "Astonishingly reinvented" (AP).

The cast of Our Town currently features Robert Beitzel (Stage Manager), RElizabeth Audley (Mrs. Soames), Robert Beitzel (Howie Newsome), Kati Brazda (Mrs. Webb), Will Brill (Joe Crowell, Jr,) Nathan Dame (Sam Craig), Roger E. DeWitt (Joe Stoddard), Donna Jay Fulks (Mrs. Gibbs), Emma Galvin (Rebecca Gibbs), Jennifer Grace (Emily Webb), Wilbur Edwin Henry (Professor Willard), Mark Hattan (Constable Warren), Ben Livingston (Doc Gibbs), David Manis (Mr. Webb), Jonathan Mastro (Simon Stimson), James McMenamin (George Gibbs), Seamus Mulcahy (Wally Webb), Jason Yachanin (Si Crowell), with Dana Jacks, Lynn Laurence, Kathleen Peirce, Keith Perry and Mark Shock.

The creative team for Our Town features Michele Spadaro (set design and props), Alison Siple (costume design) and Heather Gilbert (lighting design).