Alan Rickman Departs SEMINAR Tonight; Jeff Goldblum to Join Cast!

Two-time Tony Award nominee, Emmy Award and Golden Globe winner Alan Rickman (Private Lives, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, the Harry Potter franchise) will play his final performance tonight, Sunday, April 1 in SEMINAR by Pulitzer Prize finalist and Peabody Award winner Theresa Rebeck (Mauritius, The Understudy, Omnium Gatherum, NBC's new hit series "Smash"), directed by Obie Award winner Sam Gold (Circle Mirror Transformation, The Aliens, Kin, The Coward).

Academy Award and Emmy Award nominee Jeff Goldblum will make his return to Broadway when he assumes the leading role of 'Leonard' on Tuesday, April 3 for 8 weeks only. A celebrated actor in Theater, Film and Television, Mr. Goldblum last appeared on Broadway in The Pillowman in 2005. More recently, he's been acclaimed for starring in two productions at The Old Vic in London, Speed-the-Plow (2008) and The Prisoner of Second Avenue (2010), both opposite Kevin Spacey. His diverse film credits include some of the highest-grossing films of all-time, include Jurassic Park and Independence Day, as well as such classics as Nashville, Death Wish, The Big Chill, Annie Hall, The Life Aquatic, Igby Goes Down and The Fly. On television, he most recently starred as Detective Zach Nichols on "Law & Order: Criminal Intent." He earned an Emmy nomination for his guest appearance on "Will & Grace" and tonight guest stars on the hit series "Glee."

Further casting with Mr. Goldblum will be announced soon.

SEMINAR opened to rave reviews on Sunday, November 20, 2011 at The Golden Theatre (252 West 45th Street). Showered with year-end accolades and making several "Best of 2011" lists, the play has been cheered as "The funniest show on Broadway" (WOR Radio), "A wonderful new comedy" (Associated Press) and a "Must-see" (Time Out).

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.

SEMINAR is produced by Jeffrey Finn, Jill Furman, John N. Hart Jr., Patrick Milling Smith, Roy Furman, David Ian, David Mirvish, Amy Nauiokas and James Spry.

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 in SEMINAR has returned 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.

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 is Tuesday through Thursday evenings at 7PM, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8PM, Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2PM and Sunday matinees at 3PM.

Photo Credit: Peter James Zielinski