Women on the Verge..: Laura Benanti joins cast

Tony Award-winner Laura Benanti (Gypsy) will join de'Adre Aziza, Danny Burstein, Nikka Graff Lanzarone, Patti LuPone, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Mary Beth Peil and Sherie Rene Scott in the cast of its upcoming production of the new musical Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, based on the film by Pedro Almodóvar, with a book by Jeffrey Lane, music and lyrics by David Yazbek and direction by Bartlett Sher.

Benanti's Broadway credits: 'In the Next Room' 'Gypsy' (Tony Award), 'The Wedding Singer,' 'Hair,' 'The Violet Hour,' 'Nine,' 'Into the Woods' (Tony nomination), 'Swing!' (Tony nomination) and 'The Sound of Music.'

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown will reopen the newly restored Belasco Theatre, where it will open on 4 Nov 2010, following previews from 2 Oct 2010.

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown is based on the 1988 Spanish comedy of the same name - Pepa's lover leaves her and she wants to know why. She seeks out his wife and son, but they have no answers. Meanwhile Pepa's girlfriend believes the police want to question Pepa because of her former lover's criminal activities. They decide to engage a lawyer, who unknown to them is the lover's new lover...

Bartlett Sher has been collaborating with Pedro Almodóvar in adapting the film which Almodóvar both wrote and directed, into a musical comedy since May 2009.

Pedro Almodóvar (Writer) is arguably the most well known Spanish filmmaker of his generation. He has won countless awards (88 wins & 57 nominations) including an Academy Award for 'Hable con ella' (Talk to Her).

Bartlett Sher (Director) is currently represented on Broadway with the revival of "South Pacific" for which he won the 2008 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical. He was nominated for Tony's for Best Director for "Awake and Sing!" (2006 revival) and the musical "The Light in the Piazza" (2005).