SEMINAR Begins Previews Tonight

Previews begin this tonight at 8PM at The Golden Theatre (252 West 45th Street) for two-time Tony Award nominee, Emmy Award and Golden Globe winner Alan Rickman (Private Lives, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, the Harry Potter franchise) making his eagerly-anticipated return to Broadway starring in the World Premiere of SEMINAR, a new comedy by Pulitzer Prize finalist and Peabody Award winner Theresa Rebeck (Mauritius, The Understudy, Omnium Gatherum, The Family of Mann, Spike Heels, NBC's upcoming "Smash").

Directed by acclaimed Obie Award winner Sam Gold (Circle Mirror Transformation, The Aliens, Tigers Be Still, Kin, The Coward) in his Broadway debut, the production also stars Tony Award nominee Lily Rabe (The Merchant of Venice, Steel Magnolias, last summer's lauded A Doll's House at Williamstown), Obie Award winner Hamish Linklater (The School for Lies, Twelfth Night, "The New Adventures of Old Christine"), film and television star Jerry O'Connell (Jerry Maguire, Stand By Me, "The Defenders," "Crossing Jordan") in his Broadway debut and actress Hettienne Park (Tony Kushner's The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide... at The Public, "The Good Wife").

Produced by Jeffrey Finn, Jill Furman, John N. Hart Jr., Patrick Milling Smith, Roy Furman, David Ian, David Mirvish, Amy Nauiokas and James Spry, SEMINAR will have its official Opening Night on Sunday, November 20 at 6:30 PM.

In SEMINAR, four aspiring young novelists (Ms. Rabe, Mr. Linklater, Mr. O'Connell and Ms. Park) sign up for private writing classes with Leonard (Mr. Rickman), an international literary figure. Under his recklessly brilliant and unorthodox instruction, some thrive and others flounder, alliances are made and broken, sex is used as a weapon and hearts are unmoored. The wordplay is not the only thing that turns vicious as innocence collides with experience in this provocative new comedy.

The production features set and costume design by Tony Award nominee and two-time Obie Award winner David Zinn, lighting design by Drama Desk Award nominee Ben Stanton and original music and sound design by two-time Drama Desk Award winner John Gromada.

An internationally-renowned actor of stage, screen and television, Alan Rickman returns to the Broadway stage for the first time since being nominated for a Tony Award for his acclaimed starring performance as Elyot in the 2002 production of Noel Coward's Private Lives. He previously made his Broadway debut and earned his first Tony Award nomination as Valmont in the 1987 U.S. premiere production of Les Liasions Dangereuses. On film, he is perhaps best known for his iconic performances as Professor Severus Snape in the Harry Potter franchise and Hans Gruber in the 1988 hit Die Hard, as well as award-winning roles in such films as Sense and Sensibility and, more recently, Sweeney Todd and Bottle Shock.

Alan Rickman is appearing with the permission of Actors' Equity Association.

Lily Rabe earned a Tony Award nomination for her acclaimed portrayal as Portia in The Merchant of Venice, for which she also won The Joe E. Callaway Award and earned a Drama Desk nomination. She made a memorable Broadway debut in Steel Magnolias (Drama Desk nomination), also appearing in The American Plan and Heartbreak House (Callaway Award, Outer Critics Circle nomination). This summer she earned rave reviews
for her starring performance as Nora in A Dolls' House at Williamstown. Her Film credits include All Good Things and Letters from a Big Man (official Sundance selection).

Hamish Linklater has consistently drawn raves for his performances in such Off-Broadway productions as The School for Lies (Obie Award), Twelfth Night (Drama Desk nomination), The Merchant of Venice, The Winter's Tale, Good Thing (also in L.A.) and as Laertes opposite Liev Schreiber's Hamlet. He is known to Television and Film audiences for his five seasons on the hit CBS show "The New Adventures of Old Christine," as well as the films Fantastic Four, Groove (official Sundance selection), the current The Future and the upcoming Lola Versus and Battleship. SEMINAR marks Mr. Linklater's Broadway debut.

Jerry O'Connell is perhaps best known to film audiences for his acclaimed performances as Quarterback Frank Cushman in the hit Jerry Maguire and his debut as Vern Tessio in the classic Stand By Me. On television, recent series starring roles include Pete Kaczmarek on the CBS comedic drama "The Defenders" and Detective Woody Hoyt on the NBC hit drama "Crossing Jordan." His many other film and television credits include Scream 2; Obsessed; Can't Hardly Wait; Mission to Mars; Yours, Mine and Ours; Man About Town; "Sliders" and "The ‘60s." SEMINAR marks Mr. O'Connell's Broadway debut.

Hettienne Park appeared Off-Broadway last season in Tony Kushner's The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures at The Public. Her film and television work includes Bride Wars, Year of the Fish, Never Forever, the upcoming Young Adult with Charlize Theron, "Mercy," "The Good Wife" and "Damages." SEMINAR marks Ms. Park's Broadway debut.

For nearly a decade, Theresa Rebeck's more than a dozen plays have been produced in New York, as well as regionally and internationally. SEMINAR marks the first time one of her works will be produced as a commercial Broadway production. (Mauritius, her acclaimed 2007 Broadway debut, was presented by Manhattan Theatre Club.) In addition to her work as a playwright, Ms. Rebeck is also a respected, award-winning television writer and producer ("NYPD Blue," "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," the eagerly-awaited NBC series "Smash"), film writer (Harriet the Spy, Seducing Charlie Barker) and novelist (the recent Twelve Rooms with a View and Three Girls and Their Brother). She is creator, head writer and executive producer of NBC's upcoming TV series "Smash."

One of the most consistently-praised directors to emerge on the New York theatrical scene in the last several years, Sam Gold has made his mark with an impressive string of critically-embraced Off-Broadway productions. He most notably won a 2010 Obie Award for directing two productions, Annie Baker's Circle Mirror Transformation and Ms. Baker's The Aliens. His other acclaimed New York productions include Kin, The Coward, Tigers Be Still, Dusk Rings a Bell and Nick Jones' Jollyship the Whiz-Bang. SEMINAR marks the director's anticipated Broadway debut.

Tickets for SEMINAR are $51.50-126.50, with Premium seating also available. Tickets can be purchase by visiting www.telecharge.com, calling (212) 239-6200 or going in person to The Golden Theatre box office (252 West 45th Street).

The performance schedule for SEMINAR during previews is Monday through Saturday evenings at 8PM and Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2PM during previews (please check for holiday week variances). After the November 20 opening, the performance schedule will be Tuesday through Thursday evenings at 7PM, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8PM, Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2PM and Sunday matinees at 3PM.