The Performers: initial casting announced

As previously reported Cheyenne Jackson and Henry Winkler ("The Fonz" from "Happy Days") are to star in David West Read's new comedy The Performers, directed by Evan Cabnet.

The cast will also feature Ari Graynor, Daniel Breaker and Jenni Barber, with further casting to be announced.

The Performers will open at Broadway's Longacre Theatre on 14 Nov 2012, following previews from 23 Oct 2012.

The Performers is a romantic comedy about two high school friends (Cheyenne Jackson and Daniel Breaker) - and the women in their lives (Ari Graynor and an actress to be announced) who reconnect at the Adult Film Awards in Las Vegas. When the night takes an unexpected turn and relationships are threatened, Chuck Wood (Henry Winkler), the hardest-working man in the business, steps in to lend a hand.

The creative team features set design by Anna Louizos, lighting design by Jeff Croiter, costume design by Jessica Wegener Shay and sound design by Nevin Steinberg.

The show is being produced on Broadway by Robyn Goodman, Scott M. Delman and Amanda Lipitz.

Henry Winkler is best known for his role as "The Fonz" from the TV sitcom "Happy Days." He has starred on Broadway in 'The Dinner Party' and '42 Seconds from Broadway,' Winkler's other TV credits includes "Clifford's Puppy Days," "Arrested Development," "Out of Practice," "Sit Down Shut Up," "Numb3rs," "Royal Pains," "Childrens Hospital" and "Hero Factory."

Cheyenne Jackson's Broadway credits include 'Finian's Rainbow,' 'Xanadu,' 'All Shook Up,' 'Thoroughly Modern Millie' and 'Aida.' His TV credits include appearances in "Glee," "Ugly Betty" and 10 episodes of "30 Rock" in which he starred as "Danny Bake."

Ari Graynor was seen last season on Broadway in 'Relatively Speaking,' and previously starred in Douglas Carter Beane's 'The Little Dog Laughed' and Donald Margulies's 'Brooklyn Boy.' Her Off-Broadway credits include 'Trust' and 'Dog Sees God.' Graynor's many films include the upcoming "For a Good Time, Call..." (opening late summer 2012), "Celeste and Jesse Forever," the recent "The Sitter," "Conviction," "What's Your Number?" as well as standout roles in "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist," "Youth in Revolt" and her film debut in "Mystic River."

Daniel Breaker starred on Broadway in the musical 'Passing Strange', for which he received a Tony nomination. Last seen on Broadway as 'Donkey' in 'Shrek: The Musical,' Breaker's other Broadway appearances include Lisa Kron's 'Well' and 'Cymbeline' at the Lincoln Center. His film credits include having starred in Spike Lee's filmed version of "Passing Strange."

Jenni Barber previously performed on Broadway in 'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.' She appeared in the Bridge Project productions of 'As You Like It' and 'The Tempest,' both directed by Sam Mendes at Brooklyn Academy of Music, and Off-Broadway in 'The Cactus Flower' and 'From Up Here' at Manhattan Theatre Club.

Evan Cabnet most recently directed Kenneth Lin's play 'Warrioe Class' at Second Stage Theatre Uptown. Last season he directed Outside People' at the Vineyard Theatre and 'All American' for LCT3. Other NY credits include Elizabeth Meriwether's 'The Mistakes Madeline Made,' Bekah Brunstetter's 'Oohrah' and Mark Schultz's 'The Gingerbread House.'