The New York Idea: cast announced

Atlantic Theater Company have announced the full cast for their world premiere adaptation of Langdon Mitchell's The New York Idea by Tony Award winner David Auburn.

The play, directed by Mark Brokaw, features Patricia Conolly, Michael Countryman, Francesca Faridany, Mikaela Feely-Lehmann, Rick Holmes, John Keating, Peter Maloney, Jaime Ray Newman, Patricia O'Connell, Jeremy Shamos, Joey Slotnick and Tom Patrick Stephens.

Commissioned by Atlantic, the new world premiere adaptation of the 1906 comedy will open at the Lucille Lortel Theatre on 26 Jan 2011, following previews from 6 Jan, and play through to 13 Feb 2011.

Cynthia Karslake is a freewheeling young divorcee in 1906 New York City society. She has decided to settle down again into a much more stable, reliable relationship with the prominent Judge Philip Phillimore. Little does she know, however, that neither of their impetuous and unpredictable ex-spouses, nor her beloved race horse Cynthia K is yet down for the count.

The creative team for The New York Idea features scenic design by Allen Moyer, costume design by Michael Krass, lighting design by Mary Louise Geiger and original music by Lewis Flinn.

Bios:

Pulitzer and Tony Award winning playwright David Auburn's plays include 'Proof,' 'An Upset,' 'Amateurs' and 'Skyscraper.' He wrote the screenplays for the feature films 'The Lake House' starring Sandra Bullock and 'The Girl in the Park' starring Sigourney Weaver, which he also directed. He recently staged 'A Delicate Balance' at The Berkshire Theatre Festival.

Director Mark Brokaw is currently represented Off-Broadway with his staging of 'The Language Archive.' He has directed 'After Miss Julie,' 'The Constant Wife,' 'Reckless' and the musical 'Cry-Baby 'on Broadway. Off-Broadway, he received Obie and Lortel Awards for his direction of Paula Vogel's acclaimed play 'How I Learned to Drive,' a Lortel Award for Kenneth Lonergan's 'This is Our Youth' and Lortel nominations for Lonergan's 'Lobby Hero' and Vogel's 'The Long Christmas Ride Home.' He has directed at London's Donmar Warehouse and Dublin's Gate Theatre and is the Artistic Director of the Yale Institute for Music Theatre.

Patricia Conolly returns to Atlantic following last season's production of Moira Buffini's 'Gabriel.'

Michael Countryman recently appeared on Broadway in 'Mary Stuart' and has starred in 'Trumpery' and 'The Bald Soprano' at Atlantic.

Francesca Faridany recently appeared on Broadway in the hit 'The 39 Steps' and Off-Broadway in Sarah Ruhl's play 'Orlando.'

Mikaela Feely-Lehmann returns to Atlantic in a central role following understudying roles in 'Gabriel' last season.

Rick Holmes has starred in the Broadway musicals 'Spamalot' and 'Cabaret' and recently Off-Broadway in 'Distracted,' directed by Mark Brokaw.

John Keating most recently appeared in 'Measure for Measure' Off-Broadway and in the HBO miniseries "John Adams."

Peter Maloney has appeared in 17 Atlantic plays, most recently in Lucy Thurber's 'Bottom of the World' and Peter Parnell's 'Trumpery.'

Jaime Ray Newman makes her New York stage debut following starring in Neil LaBute's 'Some Girls' and 'Fat Pig' at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles.

Patricia O'Connell returns to Atlantic after appearing in the award winning production of Martin McDonagh's 'The Cripple of Inishmann' which also toured Ireland and England.

Jeremy Shamos joins the cast direct from the Broadway comedy 'Elling.' He received a Lortel nomination for his acclaimed performance in 'Clybourne Park' Off-Broadway last season.

Joey Slotnick returns to Atlantic after starring in the world premiere productions of Ethan Coen's 'Offices' and 'Almost an Evening.'

Tom Patrick Stephens makes his debut in a central role after understudying roles in Atlantic's productions of 'The Collection,' 'Gabriel' and 'Parlour Song.'