Broadway's Cort Theatre Celebrates 100th Birthday, 12/20

Broadway's Cort Theatre (138 West 48th Street), will celebrate its 100th Anniversary tomorrow (Thursday, December 20th). The theatre, which opened on December 20, 1912 with a Peg O'My Heart starring Laurette Taylor, is currently home to the Broadway Premiere of Grace, which will end its limited engagement on January 6, 2013. It will next be home to the World Premiere production of Truman Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's, a new play written by Richard Greenberg, which starts performances on Monday, March 4 and opens on Wednesday, March 20. The Cort Theatre is owned and operated by The Shubert Organization.

In its storied and starry 100 year history, The Cort Theatre has been home to more than 250 productions, and been the venue for Broadway debuts of stars like Grace Kelly (The Father, 1949) and Jane Fonda (There Was a Little Girl, 1960). Stars like Ethel Barrymore (The Second Mrs. Tanquerray, 1924), Katharine Hepburn (These Days, 1928; As You Like It, 1950), Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee (Purlie Victorious, 1961), Robert Redford (Sunday in New York, 1961), Al Pacino (Richard III, 1969), Jessica Tandy (Rose, 1981) and many more have all Graced its stage. Other notable productions include One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1963), The Grapes of Wrath (1990), Anna Deavere Smith's Twilight Los Angeles (1994), The Heiress (1995), John Leguizamo's Freak (1998), Nicole Kidman in The Blue Room (1998), On Golden Pond starring James Earl Jones (2005), Will Ferrell's You're Welcome America (2009), and acclaimed revivals of A View From the Bridge (2010) and Fences (2010).

Grace, which was recently named one of Time Magazine's Top 10 Shows of the Year, stars Paul Rudd, Michael Shannon, Kate Arrington and Ed Asner. A thrilling cast combines with one of theater's truly original voices, in this gripping dark comedy that asks: are we in control of our lives or is there something else at work? With scenes that careen from the serene to the suspenseful, Grace follows a wide-eyed young couple (Rudd & Arrington) as they start a new life in sunny, promise-filled Florida, with big plans to open a chain of Gospel themed motels. An agitated neighbor (Shannon) and a caustic exterminator (Asner) complete the eclectic foursome as destinies collide in this intensely entertaining and suspenseful journey to The Edge of your seat.

The design team of Grace includes Beowulf Boritt (Scenic Design), David Weiner (Lighting Design), Tif Bullard (Costume Design) and recent Tony Award-winner Darron L West (Sound Design).

Tickets ($32 - $132) for Grace are on sale, via Telecharge.com, by calling (212) 239-6200 or at the box office at the Cort Theatre (138 West 48th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues). A general rush is available the day of the performance, when the box office opens. General rush tickets are $30 Mondays through Thursdays and $35 Fridays - Sundays (cash or credit); limited to two tickets per person. For Group Bookings visit www.telecharge.com/groups or call Telecharge Group Sales at 800-432-7780.

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