Justin Long Leaves OTHER DESERT CITIES at Mark Taper Forum; Replaced by Michael Weston

According to the Los Angeles Times, Justin Long has withdrawn from Center Theatre Group's production of Other Desert Cities at Mark Taper Forum due to "a film commitment". The production is scheduled to begin performances on November 28.

Read the original report here.

Michael Weston will take over Long's role as 'Trip Wyeth' alongside cast members Jeannie Berlin, Robert Foxworth, Robin Weigert and JoBeth Williams. Long's departure follows the previous exit of the show's original director Joe Mantello, who was replaced by Robert Egan this summer.

Other Desert Cities, which still has not started rehearsals, is set to open on December 9 and run through January 6, 2013.

The West Coast premiere of the Tony-nominated play Other Desert Cities by Jon Robin Baitz features scene design by Takeshi Kata, costume design by Alex Jaeger, lighting design by Lap Chi Chu and sound design by Adam Phalen. Casting is by Erika Sellin. Production stage manager is James T. McDermott.

Other Desert Cities tells the story of a once promising novelist who returns home after a six year absence to spend the holidays with her parents, her brother and her aunt. When she announces that she is about to publish a memoir focusing on an explosive chapter in the family’s history, the reunion is thrown into turmoil.

Other Desert Cities premiered at Lincoln Center Theater in December 2010 and played at the Booth Theatre on Broadway, October 2011 through June 2012, receiving a total of five Tony nominations.

Long last appeared on Broadway in 2011's Seminar. His other Broadway credits include The 24 Hour Plays in both 2003 and 2004. The actor has appeared in numerous films, including “He’s Just Not That Into You,” the cult classic “Drag Me To Hell,” “Going the Distance,” “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story,” the independent film “Lumpy” and the upcoming romantic comedy “A Case of You” (which he co-wrote and produced). On television, he appeared in the series “Ed” and recently in a recurring role on “New Girl.” 

Weston has appeared off-Broadway in Snakebit, as well as The Waverly Gallery at Pasadena Playhouse. His film and television credits include Garden State, A&E's Coma, House and Six Feet Under.

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