The Brother/Sister Plays: Public announces full cast

The Public Theater have announced complete casting for the world premiere of Tarell Alvin McCraney�s The Broter/Sister Plays Part 1 & Part 2. McCraney returns to The Public to complete his trilogy following the success of 'The Brothers Size' in 2007.

The complete cast for The Broter/Sister Plays features Sterling K. Brown as 'Shango/Shua,' Kimberly H�bert Gregory as 'Aunt Elegua/Shun,' Brian Tyree Henry as 'Egungun/Oshoosi/Tarell,' Andre Holland as 'Elegba/Marcus,' *Marc Damon Johnson as Ogun,' Sean Allen Krill as 'O Li Roon/Man From State,' Nikiya Mathis as 'Shun/Shaunta Iyun,' Kiann� Muschett as 'Oya/Osha,' and Heather Alicia Simms as 'Nia/Mama Moja/Oba'.
*Marc Damon Johnson is only cast in Part 2

Tina Landau will direct Part 1: In The Red and Brown Water and Robert O�Hara will direct Part 2: The Brothers Size and Marcus; or the Secret of Sweet.

Performances begin 21 Oct 2009 and continue through to 13 Dec 2009, with an official press opening on 17 Nov 2009.

These three plays will be presented in two separate shows to be enjoyed independently, in any order, or experienced together. Marathon performances are scheduled for weekends so audiences can experience all three plays in one day.

Tarell Alvin McCraney�s trilogy is a collection of modern-day stories of kinship, love, heartache and coming-of-age centered around an extended family and community in the Bayou. Winner of the inaugural New York Times Outstanding Playwright Award, McCraney�s stories traverse the gritty and lyrical, urban and mythic.

"Tarell is a thrilling writer, an artist whose poetic skill and story-telling prowess is matched by his intensely moral vision,� said Public Theater Artistic Director Oskar Eustis. �The Broter/Sister Plays mark the full emergence of a major new American playwright. We are honored to have Tarell be part of the Public's family."

The Broter/Sister Plays will feature scenic design by James Schuette; costume design by Karen Perry; lighting design by Peter Kaczorowski; and sound design by Lindsay Jones.

Tarell Alvin McCraney's (Playwright) 'Brother/Sister Plays' have been produced at The Public, Studio Theater, Abbey Theatre (Dublin), Foundry Theater, the McCarter Theater, the Young Vic, and Alliance Theater. His other works include 'The Breach,' 'Wig Out!,' 'Without/Sin,' 'Run Mourner, Run' and 'A Taurian Tale.' He has been honored with the Cole Porter Award, Paula Vogel Playwriting Award, Whiting Writing Award and Outstanding Achievement by an Affiliate Theater Olivier Award nomination.

Tina Landau (Director) returns to The Public following the production of 'Space,' which she wrote and directed. Her Broadway directing credits include the current production of Tracy Letts�s 'Superior Donuts' and the 2001 revival of 'Bells Are Ringing.' Her off-Broadway credits include 'Wig Out!,' 'Iphigenia 2.0,' 'Mary Rose,' 'Miracle Brothers,' 'Saturn Returns,' and 'Cloud Tectonics.' She wrote the book and lyrics for 'Dream True: My Life With Vernon Dixon' and 'Floyd Collins,' which she also directed.

Robert O�Hara (Director) wrote and directed 'Insurrection: Holding History' at The Public in 1996, which won the Oppenheimer Award for Best New American Play. In 2006, he received an OBIE Award for his direction of 'In The Continuum'; in addition, he has been awarded a Rockefeller Fellowship, TCG Extended Collaboration Grant, NEA/TCG Fellowship, a Van Lier Fellowship, the Mark Taper Forum's Sherwood Award, and the TANNIE Award for Exceptional Body of Work.

Sterling K. Brown's (Shango/Shua) off-Broadway credits include 'Macbeth' (The Public, 2006) and 'The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui' (National Actors Theatre).

Kimberly H�bert Gregory's (Aunt Elegua/Shun) regional theater credits include 'Amen Corner' (Goodman), 'Nickel and Dimed' (Steppenwolf), 'Waiting to be Invited' (Victory Gardens Theater) and 'Julius Caesar' (Chicago Shakespeare Theater). In addition to regional work, she played the role of 'Shenzi' in the national tour of Disney�s 'The Lion King.'

Brian Tyree Henry (Egungun/Oshoosi/Tarell) recently appeared in the world premiere of Paula Vogel�s 'A Civil War Christmas' (Long Wharf). He played 'Oshoosi Size' in the world premiere of 'The Brothers Size' at The Public Theater and Studio Theatre and recently toured with the play to the Abbey Theatre (Dublin).

Andre Holland (Elegba/Marcus) recently played 'Eric' in Tarell Alvin McCraney�s 'Wig Out!' at the Vineyard Theater. His other New York theater credits include 'Tempest Tossed' at Classic Stage, 'Blue Door' at Playwrights Horizons, and 'As You Like It' and 'Much Ado About Nothing' at Shakespeare in the Park.

Marc Damon Johnson (Ogun) last appeared at The Public in the world premiere of John Belluso�s 'The Poor Itch.' He played 'Bronson' in the world premiere of Paula Vogel�s 'A Civil War Christmas' at Long Wharf and appeared in 'Mr. Fox: A Rumination' at Signature Theater Company. He played 'Ogun Size' in the Abbey Theatre�s production of 'The Brothers Size' and appeared at Shakespeare in the Park in 'Measure for Measure' and 'Two Gentlemen of Verona.'

Sean Allen Krill (O Li Roon/Man From State) recently starred on Broadway and on tour as 'Sam Carmichael' in the hit musical 'Mamma Mia!'. His regional credits include 'Sunday in the Park With George,' 'The Comedy of Errors,' and 'Brigadoon.'

Nikiya Mathis (Shun/Shaunta Iyun) originated the role of 'Maima' in Danai Gurira�s 'Eclipsed' at the 2009 IN-Festival (McCarter). She is a 2008 graduate of NYU�s Graduate Acting Program.

Kiann� Muschett's (Oya/Osha) recent stage roles include 'Inez' in' Our Lady of 121st Street,' the title role in 'Ella,' and 'T-Anne/Andwyneth' in 'Anton in Show Business.'

Heather Alicia Simms (Nia/Mama Moja/Oba) appeared on Broadway in Ma Rainey�s 'Black Bottom,' 'A Raisin in the Sun,' and 'Gem of the Ocean' and off-Broadway in 'The Exonerated,' 'Insurrection: Holding History,' and 'Breath, Boom.'

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