Oliver Platt to Star in GUYS AND DOLLS; Begins Previews February 2009

Lead producer Howard Panter for Ambassador Theatre Group and co-producers Tulchin/Bartner and Darren Bagert announced today that a brand new production of GUYS AND DOLLS, directed by Des McAnuff, the Tony Award-Winning director of Jersey Boys, will begin previews on Broadway on February 3, 2009 at Broadway's Nederlander Theatre (208 West 41st Street). Opening Night is March 1.

Starring Tony Award nominee Oliver Platt as Nathan Detroit, with additional casting to be announced shortly, this brand new production of GUYS AND DOLLS marks the first joint Broadway project by two-time Tony Award winning director Des McAnuff and Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award nominated choreographer Sergio Trujillo since their collaboration on the Tony Award winning musical Jersey Boys.

Packed with such classic hits as "Fugue for Tinhorns," "A Bushel and a Peck," "Adelaide's Lament," "I'll Know," "Guys and Dolls," "More I Cannot Wish You," "Luck Be A Lady," and "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat," GUYS AND DOLLS features music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. Based on "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown" and "Blood Pressure," two short stories by Damon Runyon, it also borrows characters and plot elements from other Runyon stories, most notably "Pick the Winner".

The musical comedy was first produced on Broadway at the 46th Street Theatre, opening on November 24, 1950. It was directed by George S. Kaufman and starred Robert Alda, Sam Levene, Isabel Bigley and Vivian Blaine. The musical enjoyed an initial run of 1,201 performances, winning five 1951 Tony Awards including Best Musical.

Additional casting and design team will be announced shortly.

BIOGRAPHIES

Oliver Platt (Nathan Detroit) returns to Broadway where he received a Tony nomination for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in Conor McPherson's Shining City. He can be seen in the following upcoming films: Ron Howard's Frost/Nixon as Bob Zelnick; the Harold Ramis comedy The Year One opposite Jack Black and Michael Cera; Nicole Holofcener's untitled film opposite Catherine Keener; and Roland Emmerich's epic 2012 opposite John Cusack, Thandie Newton and Amanda Peet. Additional theatre credits include the Lincoln Center production of Ubu; Jules Feiffer's Elliot Loves, directed by Mike Nichols; and his acclaimed performance as Sir Toby Belch in Brian Kulick's Twelfth Night. He received Golden Globe and back-to-back Emmy nominations for his portrayal of Russell Tupper in Showtime's Huff as well as an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his portrayal as White House Counsel Oliver Babish on The West Wing. This year he was nominated again for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his recurring role on Nip/Tuck playing the flamboyant TV producer Freddy Prune.