The Whipping Man: MTC announce full cast

Manhattan Theatre Club's has announced the full cast for their upcoming New York premiere of Matthew Lopez's historical drama The Whipping Man, directed by Tony Award winner Doug Hughes, opening at NY City Center Stage I on 1 Feb 2011, following previews from 13 Jan and runs through to 13 Mar 2011.

Joining the previously announced Emmy Award winner Andre Braugher ("Men of a Certain Age," "Homicide"), are Andre Holland ('Joe Turner's Come and Gone,' 'The Brother/Sister Plays') and Jay Wilkison (upcoming film version of "Rabbit Hole").

The creative team for The Whipping Man features: John Lee Beatty (scenic design), Catherine Zuber (costume design), Ben Stanton (lighting design) and Jill BC DuBoff (sound design).

The Whipping Man: April, 1865: the Civil War has ended. Caleb DeLeon, a Jewish Confederate soldier, returns wounded from the battlefield to find his family home in ruins, abandoned by everyone except Simon (Braugher) and John -two former slaves, who were raised as Jews in the DeLeon home. As the three men reunite to celebrate Passover, and recall the exodus from Egypt in light of their own new liberties, they uncover a tangle of secrets... ties that bind them together and that, ultimately, might cost each man his freedom.

Bios: Andre Braugher earned two Emmy Awards: in 1998 for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama for his performance in "Homicide: Life on the Streets" and in 2006 for his starring role in the miniseries "Thief." In 2010, he received his sixth Emmy nomination for the hit series "Men of a Certain Age" which will return for its second season 6 Dec 2010 on TNT.

On stage, Braugher received an Obie Award for his performance in the 1996 Shakespeare in the Park production of 'Henry V.' Other New York stage credits include: 'Hamlet,' 'The Tragedy of Richard II,' 'Measure for Measure' and 'Twelfth Night.'

Andre Holland: 'Joe Turner's Come and Gone.' Additional Theater credits: 'The Brother/Sister Plays' (Public Theater), 'Wig Out' (Vineyard Theatre), 'Tempest Tossed' (Classic Stage Company), 'In the Red and Brown Water' (Alliance Theatre), 'Blue Door' (Playwrights Horizons); Much Ado About Nothing and As You Like It (Public Theater, Shakespeare in the Park); Andorra (Young Vic, London), 'Hamlet,' 'Comedy of Errors,' 'Saint Joan' (Georgia Shakespeare Festival). Film: "Bride Wars" (FOX), "Miracle at St. Anna" (Spike Lee, dir.) and "Sugar" (Ryan Fleck/Anna Boden, dir.). Television: "Friends with Benefits" (NBC), "Law & Order" (NBC), "Black Donnellys" (NBC), "Lost & Found" (NBC Pilot), "Rockford Files" (NBC Pilot) and "The News" (ABC Pilot).

Jay Wilkison will be seen in director John Cameron Mitchell's upcoming film adaptation of David Lindsay-Abaire's Pulitzer Prize winning play "Rabbit Hole." His theatrical credits include 'Rent' (Broadway, national tour), 'Dancing at Lughnasa' (Mary McArthur Theater) and 'Translations' (Lester Martin Theater). His television credits include "Nurse Jackie," "Game Killers" (MTV), "Rescue Me," "One Life to Live" and "Law & Order."