'Shining City' to open at the Schoenfeld Theatre.

Barry & Fran Weissler, Scott Rudin/Paramount Pictures Corporation, Roger Berlind and Debra Black will present Rufus Sewell and Stanley Townsend in Shining City, a new play written and directed by Conor McPherson, opening on Broadway on the 10 Nov 2005 at the Schoenfeld Theatre, following previews from the 18 Oct. The play will also feature Geraldine Hughes and Keith Nobbs.

The production will play a pre-Broadway engagement at San Francisco's Curran Theatre from the 13 Sep to 9 Oct 2005.

In Dublin a man seeks help from a therapist, claiming to have seen the ghost of his recently deceased wife. But what begins as just an unusual encounter becomes a desperate struggle between the living and the dead - a struggle which will shape and define both men for the rest of their lives.

Under the direction of Conor McPherson, Shining City had its world premiere at London's Royal Court Theatre on the 9 Jun 2004, where it received good reviews. The Daily Telegraph raved, "SHINING CITY is moving, compassionate, ingenious and absolutely gripping." The Sunday Express praised the show as "constantly compelling,yielding the biggest theatrical surprise of the year." "With moments that are literally breathtaking," wrote The Sunday Times, "SHINING CITY springs surprises like a jack-in-the-box. When it finally springs open, it's hard to stop thinking about it, hard to cram its terrifying questions back under cover."

It subsequently moved to the Gate Theatre Dublin where it opened on the 28 Sep 2004. Conor McPherson's previous New York credits include 'The Weir' on Broadway and 'St. Nicholas', 'This Lime Tree Bower' and 'Dublin Carol' off-Broadway.

Shining City will feature scenic design by Santo Loquasto, costume design by Ann Roth and lighting design by Paul Gallo.

Biographies:

Conor McPherson (Playwright, Director) made his Broadway debut with 1999's acclaimed play 'The Weir'. Off-Broadway, his productions include 'Dublin Carol', 'St. Nicholas' and 'This Lime Bower Tree'. McPherson was awarded the 1997 George Devine Award, the 1997 Critics' Circle Award and the 1997 Evening Standard Award for Most Promising Playwright for 'The Weir'. 'The Weir' also won the 1999 Olivier Award for Best New Play.

Rufus Sewell (Ian) On stage, Sewell made his West End theatrical debut in 1993 as 'Thomas Kratsky,' the Czechoslovakian hustler in 'Making It Better', which won him the London Critics Circles' Best Newcomer Award. Sewell starred in the Broadway production of Brian Friel's 'Translations', opposite Brian Dennehy. His theatre credits include 'Rat In The Skull' directed by Stephen Daldry, the title role of 'Macbeth' in London's West End, and, his acclaimed performance in the revival of John Osborne's 'Luther' at the Royal National Theatre.

Stanley Townsend (John) received an Evening Standard Award nomination for his performance in the world premiere engagement of 'Shining City'. He previously appeared at the Gate Theatre Dublin in 'Pride & Prejudice,' 'Oleanna,' 'The Dream,' 'The Double Dealer' and 'The Cherry Orchard'. Other theatre work includes 'Under the 'Blue Sky' (Royal Court), 'Remember This,' 'Guys & Dolls,' 'The Little Clay Cart,' 'The Weir,' 'The Gingerbread Mix Up,' amongst others.

Geraldine Hughes (Neasa) just finished touring her award-winning solo show 'Belfast Blues'. Having garnered the 2003 Los Angeles Ovation Award for Best Solo Performance, the Los Angeles Garland Award for Performance, and the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Writing, 'Belfast Blues' had successful runs in London, Chicago and the Culture Project in New York. Theatre credits include: Joan Plowright in 'Orson's Shadow' and as Betty Boylan in 'Kevin's Bed.'

Keith Nobbs (Laurence). Broadway: 'The Lion in Winter' (Roundabout). Off-Broadway: 'Romance' (Atlantic), 'Fuddy Meers' (MTC, Minetta Lane), 'Dublin Carol' (Atlantic), 'Hope Is the Thing with Feathers' (Drama Department), 'Four' (MTC), 'Stupid Kids' (WPA, Century Theatre).