Janeane Garofalo, Daniel Oreskes, et al. Set for New Group's RUSSIAN TRANSPORT

The New Group presents Russian Transport, written by Erika Sheffer, in a world premiere limited engagement January 17 – March 10, 2012. Directed by Scott Elliott, the production features Janeane Garofalo, Daniel Oreskes, Morgan Spector, Sarah Steele and Raviv Ullman. Official Opening Night is Monday, January 30 at The New Group @ Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street).

Russian Transport is a suspenseful family drama set in the Russian Jewish community of Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. Diana and Misha, an immigrant couple, run a struggling car service while trying to carve out the American Dream for their teenagers, Alex and Mira. When Diana's sexy and mysterious brother Boris arrives to stay with them, family loyalty is tested. For Alex and Mira, Uncle Boris is an exciting addition to their home, but soon Alex is pulled into his Uncle's dangerous world. Laced with humor and intrigue, Russian Transport captures the complex layers of one very particular immigrant experience.

Russian Transport features Janeane Garofalo (Film: The Truth About Cats & Dogs, Romy and Michele's High School Reunion) as "Diana," Daniel Oreskes (B'way: Billy Elliot: The Musical, The Miracle Worker; Off-B'way at The New Group: Roar, Terrorism) as "Misha," Morgan Spector (B'way: A View from the Bridge) as "Boris," Sarah Steele (Off-B'way at The New Group: The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie; Film: Spanglish; TV: "The Good Wife," "Gossip Girl") as "Mira" and Raviv Ullman (TV: Disney Channel's "Phil of the Future") as "Alex."

Russian Transport is the Off-Broadway debut of playwright Erika Sheffer. Her other plays include The Drowning Side and short pieces Engaging Dynamic Guest Experience, Likes to Scratch and Something in Your Stomach. Her work has received readings at Naked Angels, Primary Stages, The Woodshed Collective and Personal Space Theatrics in association with The Actors Studio. She has performed original pieces at Upright Citizens Brigade and Dixon Place. She will develop her newest play through a fellowship from SPACE on Ryder Farm. Erika Sheffer founded The Jam Band Writers Group, is a founding member of the 15th Floor Playwrights Collective, and an alumna of The Movement Theatre Company's 2010 New Works/Moving Up Writers Group. Sheffer has been a finalist for The Estrogenius Festival and a Juilliard fellowship. B.F.A. in drama from Syracuse University.

Director Scott Elliott is the founding Artistic Director of The New Group, a place for artists to experiment, take risks and collaborate in an artist-driven environment. With the company, he has produced over 48 plays, 23 of which he directed, including most recently, Thomas Bradshaw's Burning, last season's revival of Wallace Shawn's Marie and Bruce and the world premiere of Tommy Nohilly's Blood From A Stone (Outer Critics Circle Award nomination for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play). He also directed The Kid, the musical based on the book by Dan Savage (Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical; Drama Desk and Lucille Lortel Award nominations for Outstanding Musical), Groundswell, Rafta, Rafta…, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Hurlyburly, Aunt Dan and Lemon, The Fever, Two Thousand Years, Abigail's Party, Smelling a Rat, Goose-Pimples and the company's first production in 1995, Ecstasy. He also directs Broadway shows and writes and directs for film and television.

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