Restoration: Jonathan Cake joins cast

New York Theatre Workshop has announced that Jonathan Cake has joined the cast of Restoration, written by Claudia Shear, and directed by Christopher Ashley. Cake assumes the role to have been played by Danny Mastrogiorgio.

Jonathan Cake's Broadway credits include 'Braham' in 'The Philanthropist' opposite Matthew Broderick, 'Iachimo' in 'Cymbeline' directed by Mark Lamos, 'Jason' in Deborah Warner's Tony nominated 'Medea' (also London's West End and BAM). Cake's New York Credits include 'Four Benches' by Ethan Coen and 'Parlour Song' by Jez Butterworth. London credits include 'Silva Vaccaro' in the RNT's 'Baby Doll,' the title role in 'Coriolanus' at Shakespeare's Globe, productions at the Royal National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Co. US television includes: ABC's "Six Degrees" and "Empire," NBC's "Inconceivable," Showtime's "Out of the Ashes." Films include: "First Knight," "True Blue," "Honest," "The One and Only" and Miramax's "Brideshead Revisited."

Cake joins Tina Benko, Alan Mandell, Danny Mastrogiorgio and Natalija Nogulich, who star alongside Claudia Shear in Restoration, opening at NYTW on 19 May 2010, following previews from 30 Apr and running through to 13 Jun 2010.

Two-time Tony Award-nominee, playwright, and actress Claudia Shear reunites with director Christopher Ashley to create and star in her new play Restoration.

Shear plays 'Giulia,' a down-on-her-luck art restorer from Brooklyn who receives what could possibly be a career-reviving job of "refreshing" Michelangelo's David in time for its quincentennial celebration in Florence.

Claudia Shear and Christopher Ashley first worked together on the NYTW production of Shear's OBIE Award-winning 'Blown Sideways Through Life,' which played an extended run at NYTW, transferred to the Cherry Lane Theatre, and was later filmed for PBS's "American Playhouse." Shear returned to NYTW with 'Dirty Blonde,' a comic exploration of the life of Mae West, directed by James Lapine, which transferred to Broadway's Helen Hayes Theatre and for which she won Tony nominations for Best Play and Best Actress.

Set design is by Scott Pask, costumes by David C. Woolard, lighting by David Lander and sound by Dan Moses Schreier.

Claudia Shear's Broadway credits include 'The Smell of the Kill' (directed by Christopher Ashley) and 'Dirty Blonde' (directed by James Lapine, Tony and Drama Desk Nominations for Best Play and Best Actress). In London she appeared in 'Chicago,' 'Who's The Daddy?,' and 'Dirty Blonde.' Her off-Broadway credits include 'Blown Sideways Through Life' (directed by Christopher Ashley, OBIE Award, nomination) as well as 'Dirty Blonde' — both at New York Theatre Workshop. Regionally she has appeared in 'Restoration' (La Jolla Playhouse), 'The Smell of the Kill' (Berkshire Theatre Festival), 'Dirty Blonde' (Kennedy Center, Helen Hayes Award nominations for Best Play and Best Actress), 'End of the Day' and 'Blown Sideways Through Life' (Coronet Theatre). Her television credits include "Friends," "Earthly Possessions," "Blown Sideways Through Life."

Christopher Ashley is currently Artistic Director of La Jolla Playhouse. His Broadway directing credits include 'Xanadu'and 'The Rocky Horror Show' for which he received nominations for the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical, as well as 'Memphis,' 'All Shook Up,' 'The Smell of the Kill,' and 'Voices in the Dark.' Off-Broadway credits include 'Regrets Only,' 'The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told,' 'Bunny Bunny,' 'Jeffrey' (OBIE and Lucille Lortel awards - Outstanding Direction), 'Communicating Doors,' 'Blown Sideways Through Life,' and 'Das Barbecu.'