The Illusion: Signature announces cast

The Signature Theatre Compamy have announced the full cast for their production of Tony Kushner's The Illusion, directed by Michael Mayer, opening at The Peter Norton Space on 5 Jun 2011, following previews from 17 May 2011, and running through to 10 Jul 2011.

The cast will feature Peter Bartlett ('The Drowsy Chaperone,' "One Life to Live"), Sean Dugan ('Next Fall,' "Oz"), David Margulies ('Conversations With My Father,' 'Wonderful Town'), Amanda Quaid ('Equus,' 'Banished Children of Eve'), Lois Smith ('The Trip to Bountiful,' "True Blood"), Henry Stram ('Inherit the Wind,' 'See What I Wanna See'), Merritt Wever ("Nurse Jackie", 'Tiny Furniture') and Finn Wittrock ("All My Children", 'The Age of Iron.')

The creative team for The Illusion features scenic design by Christine Jones, costume design by Susan Hilferty, lighting design by Kevin Adams and sound design by Bray Poor.

Signature Theatre Company's 20th Anniversary season, decicated to the works of Tony Kushner, also featured the first New York revival of Tony Kushner's Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning epic work, 'Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes: Part 1 & Part 2' directed by Michael Greif, which extended four times and will play its final performance on 24 Apr 2011, and the New York premiere of "The Inteeligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Ket to the Scriptures, also directed by Michael Greif and co-produced with The Public Theater in association with The Guthrie Theater, which will begin performances at The Public Theater on 22 Mar 2011 and will open on 5 May 2011.

Bios:

Tony Kushner's (Playwright) plays include 'A Bright Room Called Day,' 'Angels in America, Parts One and Two,' 'Slavs!,' 'Homebody/Kabul' and 'iHo: The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures.' Adaptations include Corneille's 'The Illusion,' S.Y. Ansky's 'The Dybbuk' and Brecht's 'The Good Person of Sezuan.' The film version of "Angels in America," directed by Mike Nichols, premiered in 2003 on HBO. Recent books include "Brundibar" (Hyperion Books), a book for children with illustrations by Maurice Sendak, and "Wrestling With Zion: Progressive Jewish-American Responses to the Palestinian/Israeli Conflict" (Grove Atlantic), co-edited with Alisa Solomon. Mr. Kushner's awards include the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, two Tony Awards for Best Play, two Obie Awards for Best Play, an Arts Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the PEN/Laura Pels Award for a Mid-Career Playwright, a Spirit of Justice Award from the Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders and a Cultural Achievement Award from the National Foundation for Jewish Culture.

Michael Myer (Director) won the 2010 Drama Desk Award for his direction of American Idiot and also directed last season's 'Everyday Rapture' at Roundabout Theatre Company. He received the 2007 Tony Award for his production of 'Spring Awakening,' which also played in London, Vienna, Tokyo and Seoul. His other Broadway credits include 'Side Man' (Tony Award/Best Play), 'Thoroughly Modern Millie' (Tony Award/Best Musical),' 'A View From the Bridge' (Tony Award/Best Revival), 'Uncle Vanya; 'night, Mother,' 'After the Fall,' ,You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown' and 'Triumph of Love.' Mayer directed the films "A Home at the End of the World" and "Flicka." He is currently shooting the pilot of "Smash" for DreamWorks and NBC.