Our Town: Michael Shannon to join cast

Oscar Nominee Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road) will assume the role of 'The Stage Manager' in David Cromer's acclaimed production of Thornton Wilder's Our Town, beginning 23 Feb 2010 at the Barrow Street Theatre.

Shannon assumes the role fromStephen Kunken, who vacates the role on 19 Feb 2010 to prepare for his role in Lucy Prebble's drama Enron, in which he will star alongside Norbert Leo Butz when the show begins previews at the Broadhurst Theatre on 8 Apr 2010.

Our Town enters its second year on 26 Feb 2010 and became the longest-running production of the play in its 72-year history with its record-breaking 337th performance on December 16, 2009.

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 Stephen Kunken (Stage Manager), Robert Beitzel (Howie Newsome), Susan Bennett (Mrs. Soames), Kati Brazda (Mrs. Webb), Will Brill (Joe Crowell), Nathan Dame (Sam Craig), Mark Hatton (Constable Warren), Jennifer Grace (Emily), Wilbur Edwin Henry (Professor Willard), Jake Horowitz (Wally Webb), Ronete Levenson (Rebecca Gibbs), Ben Livingston (Doc Gibbs), David Manis (Editor Webb), Daniel Marcus (Simon Stimson), James McMenamin (George), Lori Myers (Mrs. Gibbs), Jay Russell (Joe Stoddard), Jason Yachanin (Si Crowell), Elizabeth Audley, Dana Jacks, 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).