Taking Care of Baby: complete cast announced

Manhattan Theatre Club has announced the full cast for their American Premiere production of Taking Care of Baby, written by Tony Award winner Dennis Kelly's ('Matilda The Musical'), with direction by Erica Schmidt (Off-B'way: 'Humor Abuse'), opening at New York City Center Stage II on 19 Nov 2013, following previews from 05 Nov 2013, for a five week engagement ending on 08 Dec 2013.

Joining the previously announced Reed Birney as 'Dr. Millard' and Margaret Colin as 'Lynn Barrie,' Kristen Bush as 'Donna McAuliffe' and Tony nominee Amelia Campbell ('Our Country's Good') as 'Mrs. Millard/Jane,' will be Francois Battiste ('Magic/ Bird') as 'Martin McAuliffe', Michael Crane ('Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson' off-Broadway), Ethan Phillips ('Golden Age') and Zach Shaffer ("Smash").

An unspeakable tragedy. A shattered family. An accusation of murder. Taking Care of Baby uses drama-documentary and verbatim theatre to explore how truth is compromised by today's information culture.

The creative team includes Laura Jellinek (scenic design), Jessica Pabst (costume design), David Weiner (lighting design) and Fitz Patton (sound design).

Taking Care of Baby premiered at London's Hampstead Theatre in 2007.

Bios:

Francois Battiste (Martin McAuliffe). Broadway: 'Magic/Bird,' 'Prelude to a Kiss' (Roundabout). Off-Broadway: 'Bronx Bombers' (Primary Stages), 'Detroit '67' (The Public/Classical Theatre of Harlem), 'Broke-Ology' (Lincoln Center), 'The Good Negro' (The Public, OBIE Award, Lortel nomination), 'The Winter's Tale' (Delacorte), 'The Merchant of Venice' (Delacorte) and 'Ten Things to do Before I Die' (Second Stage). Selected TV/Film: "The Good Wife," "Person of Interest," "Are We There Yet?" HBO's "The Normal Heart," "Men in Black III," "You Bury Your Own."

Kristen Bush (Donna McAuliffe) NYC: 'The Common Pursuit' (Roundabout, dir. Moises Kaufman); 'Kin' (Playwrights Horizons, dir. Sam Gold); 'Isaac's Eye,' 'Photograph 51' (both Ensemble Studio Theatre), 'King Lear' (The Public), 'Great Expectations' (Theatreworks/Lucille Lortel). Film/TV: "Liberal Arts" (dir. Josh Radnor), "Synechdoche," "NY" (dir. Charlie Kaufman); "Ashborough" (NBC/Chiller), "Winners" (short, dir. Ryan Dickie), "Elementary," "L&O: SVU," "The Good Wife," "Blue Bloods," "Suits," "Person of Interest," "Unforgettable," "Medium," "Numbers," "NCIS," and "Knight Rider."

Reed Birney (Dr. Millard). Broadway: 'Gemini,' 'Picnic.' Off-Broadway: 'Uncle Vanya' (Vanya, Drama Desk Nomination), 'Blasted' (Ian, Drama Desk Nomination) Soho Rep, 'Circle Mirror Transformation' (Shultz, OBIE, Drama Desk Awards), 'A Small Fire' Playwrights Horizons, 'Tigers Be Still,' 'The Dream Of The Burning Boy' Roundabout Underground and 'Bug' (Dr. Sweet, OBIE Award) Barrow Street. Television: "House of Cards" (Donald Blythe); 2006 OBIE for Sustained Excellence.

Amelia Campbell (Mrs. Millard/Jane/Waitress/Woman). Broadway: 'A Streetcar Named Desire,' 'Our Country's Good' (Tony Nomination), 'A Small Family Business,' 'Translations,' 'The Herbal Bed' and 'Waiting In The Wings.' Recent off B'way: 'The Exonerated' (Culture Project), 'The Fall To Earth' (59E59), 'Philip Roth In Khartoum' (LAByrinth), 'The Misanthrope' (NYTW) and 'Tryst' (Promenade). Film & T.V.: "Stand Clear of the Closing Doors" (upcoming), "What Maisie Knew," "Leaves of Grass," "The Paper," "A Simple Twist of Fate," "Mercy," "Third Watch," "Law & Order," "Law & Order Criminal Intent," "A Dog Year"(HBO) and "My Lousiana Sky"(Showtime).

Margaret Colin (Lynn Barrie). World premiere of 'The Columnist' at the Friedman. Other MTC credits include: 'Defiance,' 'Psychopathia Sexualisis' and 'Aristocrats.' Off-Broadway: 'Temporary Help,' 'Betrayal,' 'Triptych' and 'Sight Unseen.' Recent TV: "Blue Bloods," "Nurse Jackie," and "Gossip Girl." Upcoming films: "The Favor." Broadway: 'Lady Croom' in Tom Stoppard's 'Arcadia,' 'Jackie an American Life,' as 'Jackie Kennedy,' 'Old Acquaintance,' 'A Day in the Death of Joe Egg' (Roundabout). Additional Films: "Independence Day," "3 Men and a Baby," "Blue Car," "True Believer," "The Devils Own." Additional TV: series leads on "Now and Again," "Foley Square," "Chicago Hope," "Leg Work" and "As the World Turns" (Margo).

Michael Crane (Reporter/Man at Door). Off-Broadway: 'Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson,' 'King Lear' and 'Richard III' (Public), 'Doris to Darlene' (Playwrights Horizons). Film/TV: "Winter's Tale," "Children of the Northern Lights," "Damages," "White Collar," "Law & Order," "Kings."

Ethan Phillips (Jim/Old Man at the Door). 'November' (Barrymore), 'My Favorite Year' (Lincoln Center), 'Golden Age' (MTC), 'The Imaginary Invalid' (Bard's SummerScape), 'Measure for Measure' (NYSF), 'Lips Together,' 'Teeth Apart' (Lortel), 'Modigliani' (Astor Place) and 'Donut World' (Playwrights Horizons). Films: "Inside Llewyn Davis," "The Island," "Bad Santa," "Green Card," "Man Without a Face," "Lean on Me" and "Glory" and others.

Zach Shaffer (Brian/Interviewer). Broadway: 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?' (u/s Nick), 'A View From The Bridge,' 'The Man Who Came to Dinner.' NY credits include: 'The Wii Plays,' 'Playlist,' 'Mine,' 'Missed Connections NYC,' 'Brown,' 'Love is Deaf,' 'Down the Drain,' 'Til the Rapture Comes.' Film & TV: "Smash" (NBC) "Salt" (Columbia Pictures), "Strangers With Candy," "The Black Donnellys," "Six Feet Under," "XX/XY" and "Law & Order."