Johnston, Eisenberg, Shor, Etc. Set for Atlantic 'Scarcity'

Atlantic Theater Company has announced casting for the first production of its 2007-2008 season, world premiere production of Lucy Thurber's play Scarcity, directed by Jackson Gay. The play will begin previews Wednesday, August 29th for an official opening on Thursday, September 20^th and a limited engagement through Sunday, October 14th Off-Broadway at Atlantic Theater Company at the Linda Gross Theater (336 West 20th Street). 

Scarcity will feature Atlantic Company members Kristen Johnston ("Third Rock From the Sun," Atlantic's The Lights), Maggie Kiley (Atlantic's The Lesson, Frame 312) and Todd Weeks (Atlantic's The Voysey Inheritance, Broadway's Full Monty) and Meredith Brandt, Jesse Eisenberg (The Squid and the Whale), Miriam Shor (Hedwig and the Angry Inch) and Michael T. Weiss (NBC's "The Pretender," the feature film Jeffrey).  

Playwright Lucy Thurber makes her Atlantic debut with the world premiere of Scarcity. Her play Stay was presented Off-Broadway last season and her other plays include Where We're Born, Ashville, Killers and Other Family and Monstrosity. Jackson Gay returns to Atlantic, where she directed the Pulitzer Prize Finalist production of Rolin Jones' The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow and Kia Corthron's Master Disaster for the 10x20 one act festival at Atlantic Stage 2.  

Two time Emmy Award^-winner and Atlantic Company Member Kristen Johnston is best known to television audiences for playing 'Sally Soloman' on the hit NBC series "3rd Rock from the Sun" for all six seasons. She returns to Atlantic, where she has also appeared in The Lights (Drama Desk Award nomination), Rosemary for Remembrance and Five Very Live. Company member Maggie Kiley recently appeared in Tina Howe's acclaimed adaptation of Ionesco's The Lesson at Atlantic and will soon appear on the big screen opposite Mark Wahlberg in the feature film We Own the Night. Company member Todd Weeks appeared in Atlantic's hit productions of David Mamet's The Voysey Inheritance and the world premiere of Romance.

Meredith Brandt makes her Off-Broadway debut. Jesse Eisenberg recently appeared on stage opposite Al Pacino in Lyle Kessler's play Orphans in Los Angeles. He earned an Independent Spirit Award nomination for his role opposite Laura Linney and Jeff Daniels in the acclaimed independent feature The Squid and the Whale. Miriam Shor starred in the original Off-Broadway production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch as well as the feature film adaptation. Michael T. Weiss recently starred in Burn This at Huntington Theatre Company and is best known for playing "Jarrod" on the hit NBC series "The Pretender" and the feature film Jeffrey.  

Set in rural western Massachusetts, Scarcity "tells the tale of two siblings whose aspirations to escape the confines of poverty and small town life come into direct conflict with their sense of family responsibility. When sixteen-year-old Billy is afforded an opportunity to change schools and move out of town by an unusually attentive young teacher, his family starts to unravel around him. In this raw, emotionally rich world premiere new drama from playwright Lucy Thurber explores the stark reality of how class in America shapes our very image of ourselves."

The design team features scenic design by Walt Spangler, costume design by Ilona Somogyi, lighting design by Jeff Lyons and sound design by Daniel Baker.  

Atlantic's 2007-2008 main stage season at the Linda Gross Theater marks premieres from three celebrated playwrights returning to the Atlantic stage in addition to the Atlantic debut of Lucy Thurber.  Peter Parnell returns with the world premiere of Trumpery, following his acclaimed play The Cider House Rules. Artistic Director Neil Pepe will direct British playwright Jez Butterworth's first American world premiere Parlour Song, marking the return of the celebrated playwright and screenwriter whose New York premiere of Mojo and American premiere of The Night Heron were both staged at Atlantic. And Tony Award nominated playwright Conor McPherson (Shining City) also returns to the company following his hit production of Dublin Carol, with the New York premiere of Port Authority, directed by Henry Wishcamper.  

Atlantic Stage 2, the company's new state-of-the-art second stage, will feature world premiere limited engagements of Human Error, by Atlantic alumni Keith Reddin (Life and Limb, Rum and Coke); Almost An Evening by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Ethan Coen (O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Fargo), directed by Artistic Director Neil Pepe and Annie Baker's comedy Body Awareness, staged by Atlantic Theater Company founding member Karen Kohlhaas (The Hothouse).

Atlantic Theater Company Main Stage at the Linda Gross Theater is located at 336 West 20th Street (between 8th and 9th Avenues).  Tickets for main stage productions are $55.00 and available by calling Ticket Central at 212-279-4200 (www.ticketcentral.com).  Visit www.atlantictheater.org for more information.

Photos - Kristen Johnston and Jesse Eisenberg