The Royal Family announces further casting

The Manhattan Theatre Club have announced additional casting for Manhattan Theatre Club�s upcoming Broadway production of The Royal Family by George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber and directed by Tony Award winner Doug Hughes.

The Royal Family opens at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on 8 Oct 2009, following previews from 15 Sep 2009 and runs through to 22 Nov 2009.

Joining the cast will be Larry Pine (Gilbert Marshall), Freddy Arsenault (Perry Stewart), Kelli Barrett (Gwen Cavendish), Carolyn Stefanie Clay (Della), Rufus Collins (McDermott/Gunga), David Greenspan (Jo) and Henny Russell (Ms. Peake).

Larry Pine replaces the previously announced Stephen Collins who has withdrawn from the production for personal reasons.

They will be joined by the previously announced cast which includes noted stage and television actress Ana Gasteyer (Kitty Dean), Tony winner John Glover (Herbert Dean), Tony Award winner and Oscar nominee Rosemary Harris (Fanny Cavendish), Tony Award nominee and Drama Desk Award winner Jan Maxwell (Julie Cavendish), Tony Award nominee Tony Roberts (Oscar Wolfe) and Tony Award nominee Reg Rogers (Tony Cavendish).

Four additional cast members for the production will be named shortly. Those four cast members will complete the company of 17 actors.

It�s half past one in the fabulously cluttered Cavendish duplex in the East Fifties, and anyone who�s anyone is still asleep. So begins The Royal Family, a comedy of theatrical manners, written by George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber, whose other storied collaborations include 'Dinner at Eight' and 'Stage Door.'

The Royal Family follows the Cavendishes, the famous family of stage stars, as they go about the drama of the day: choosing scripts, dashing off to a performance, and stealing kisses with handsome beaus. But what's this business about the younger Miss Cavendish wanting to quit the stage for domestic bliss? Never, darling!

The creative team for The Royal Family will include John Lee Beatty (Scenic Design), Catherine Zuber (Costume Design), Kenneth Posner (Lighting Design) and Darron L West (Sound Design).

Tickets go on sale to the general public on 14 Aug 2009.

The Royal Family will be the first production of MTC�s 2009-2010 theatrical season. Other productions will include the Broadway premiere of Donald Margulies� 'Collected Stories' directed by Lynne Meadow and featuring Linda Lavin. Off-Broadway at City Center, MTC�s season will include Donald Margulies� 'Time Stands Still' directed by Daniel Sullivan, 'Nightingale' written by and starring Lynn Redgrave and directed by Joseph Hardy, and the New York premiere of Polly Stenham�s 'That Face.'

Bio's for new cast announced.

Larry Pine (Gilbert Marshall). Broadway credits include: 'Bus Stop' (1996 revival), 'Angels in America' (1994), End of the World (1984)and 'Cyrano de Bergerac' (1968 revival). He recently appeared off-Broadway in 'The Shanghai Gesture' (Mirror Repertory Company).

Freddy Arsenault (Perry Stewart). The Royal Family marks Freddy�s MTC and Broadway debut. Off-Broadway credits include 'Henry V' (The Guthrie Theatre/ The Acting Company) and 'Blue Man Group.'

Kelli Barrett (Gwen Cavendish) is making her Broadway debut. She was last seen in New York as �Sherrie� in the Off-Broadway production of 'Rock of Ages.'

Caroline Stefanie Clay (Della) has previously understudied on Broadway in 'Come Back, Little Sheba' (2008), 'Doubt' (2005) and 'Drowning Crow' (2004). Other New York theatre credits include: Playwrights Horizons, NYTW, and Signature.

Rufus Collins (McDermott/Gunga) previously appeared on Broadway in 'An Ideal Husband' (1996 revival) and as uderstudied in 'To Be, or Not To Be' (2008) and 'Day In The Death of Joe Egg' (2003 revival). Other New York credits: 'Aristocrats,' 'Orson�s Shadow,' 'House and Garden' at the Manhattan Theatre Club, 'Hamlet,' 'Henry V,' 'Richard II' (title roles), 'A Doll's House' and 'Pillars of Society.'

David Greenspan (Jo) understudied the roles of 'Edna Turnblad' and 'Wilbur Turnblad' in the Broadway production of 'Hairspray'. He has won Obie Awards for his performances in 'Some Men' (SST), 'Faust, Parts I & II' (CSC) and 'The Boys in the Band' (Lucille Lortel Theatre).

Henny Russell (Ms. Peake) made her Broadway debut in 'Major Barbara' (2001 revival) and understudied for Joan Allen in the role of 'Katharine Keenan ' in 'Impressionism' (2009).

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