The Ritz at Studio 54

The Roundabout Theatre Company is to present a new Broadway production of Terrence McNally�s comedy The Ritz, starring Rosie Perez (Googie Gomez) & Kevin Chamberlin (Gaetano Proclo) and directed by Joe Mantello.

The comedy will open on 11 Oct 2007, following previews from 14 Sep, at Broadway's Studio 54 and run, for a limited engagement, through to 2 Dec 2007.

The cast also includes Brooks Ashmanskas who will play the role of Chris.

The design team includes Scott Pask (Sets) and William Ivey Long (Costumes).

Additional cast members and designers will be announced shortly.

The Ritz is an over-the-top comedy that takes place in a bathhouse in Manhattan. When Gaetano Proclo needs to hide from mobster Carmine Vespucci, he escapes to the Ritz. When Gaetano realizes the Ritz is a gay bathhouse and not a Turkish bath, he pretends to be a big-time Broadway producer to keep suspicions low. When Carmine locates Gaetano what transpires is wild, manic mayhem.

The Ritz premiered on Broadway in 1975 at the Longacre Theatre. In 1976, the play was made into a feature film starring Jack Weston, Rita Moreno and Jerry Stiller.

Kevin Chamberlin's Broadway credits include: Seussical (2000), Dirty Blonde (2000), Chicago (1996 revival). His TV credits include 'Heroes,' 'CSI:NY,' and 'Law and Order SVU.' He currently co-stars with Lily Taylor in the new Lifetime series 'State of Mind'.

Rosie Perez's Broadway credits include: Reckless (2004), The Play What I Wrote (2003) and Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune (2002). She was nominated for a Golden Globe and Academy Award for her role in Fearless.

Brooks Ashmanskas has been nominated for a 2007 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical for his performance in Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me (2006). Other Broadway credits include: Gypsy (2003 revival) and The Producers (2001).

Joe Mantello, who is an associate artist at Roundabout Theatre Company, returns to Roundabout, and Studio 54, after winning a Tony Award for staging the 2004 Tony winning production of Assassins.

Mantello's many Broadway credits includes the Tony /award winning musical Wicked (2003), Three Days of Rain (2006), The Odd Couple (2005 revival) and Take Me Out (2003 revival), for which he won a Tony award for Best Direction of a Play.