Arena Stage Announces Full Cast For 'A Delicate Balance' 2/6

A Delicate Balance by Edward Albee, directed by Pam Mackinnon

The previously announced Kathleen Chalfant (Obie Award-winner for Wit) and Ellen McLaughlin (original Angel in Broadway's Angels in America) will be joined by Terry Beaver, Carla Harting, Helen Hedman and James Slaughter for the upcoming production of Edward Albee's provocative drama A Delicate Balance. Directed by Pam Mackinnon, A Delicate Balance will officially open February 12, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. at Arena Stage in Crystal City. The show will run February 6 through March 15, 2009. Full release to follow at a later date.

Cast of A Delicate Balance:
Kathleen Chalfant (Agnes) Broadway: Angels in America (Tony nomination, Best Featured Actress in a Play), M. Butterfly and Racing Demon. Off-Broadway: Wit (Obie) and Talking Heads (Obie).

Ellen McLaughlin (Claire) Broadway: Angels in America. Off-Broadway: String of Pearls, Blue Window, A Bright Room Called Day and The Bacchae.

Terry Beaver (Tobias) Broadway: Henry IV (Lincoln Center Theater) and The Last Night of Ballyhoo (Tony nomination for Best Featured Actor). Regional: Summer and Smoke (Hartford Stage).

Carla Harting (Julia) Dead Man's Cell Phone (Playwrights Horizons); Passion Play, a cycle (Arena Stage) and Eurydice (Second Stage).

Helen Hedman (Edna) Miss Nelson Is Missing! (Imagination Stage); A Woman of No Importance (Shakespeare Theatre Company) and The Women, The Importance of Being Earnest and The Caucasian Chalk Circle (Arena Stage).

James Slaughter (Harry) Gross Indecency (Studio Theatre), Scenes from an Execution (Blue Light Company, Off-Broadway), A Midsummer Night's Dream and Stand Up Tragedy (Arena).

Set Designer is Todd Rosenthal, Costume Designer is Ilona Somogyi, Light Designer is Allen Lee Hughes, Sound Designer is Timothy Thompson and Stage Manager is Martha Knight.

Note: The previously announced Jayne Houdyshell is no longer available for this production.

Under the leadership of Artistic Director Molly Smith, Washington, D.C.-based Arena Stage has become the largest theater in the country dedicated to American plays and playwrights. Founded in 1950 by Zelda Fichandler, Thomas Fichandler and Edward Mangum, Arena Stage was one of the nation's original resident theaters and has a distinguished record of leadership and innovation in the field. With the opening of the new Mead Center for American Theater in 2010, Arena Stage will be a leading center for the production, development and study of American theater. Now in its sixth decade, Arena Stage serves a diverse annual audience of more than 200,000. For more information please visit www.arenastage.org.

Meet Agnes and Tobias, a retired married couple living in a suburban neighborhood with Claire, Agnes's alcoholic sister. When the couple's adult daughter comes home after her fourth failed marriage and two friends move in unexpectedly, the "delicate balance" of their family life begins to topple. As bitter family rivalries play out over two evenings' cocktails, Albee's sharp and witty dialogue cuts straight to the heart. Agnes and Tobias are challenged to the core in this moving, caustically funny masterpiece hailed as "an evening of theatrical fireworks" by The New York Times. Winner of the 1967 Pulitzer Prize, A Delicate Balance further established Albee as a giant of American Theater.

The show is located at the Arena Stage in Crystal City
1800 S. Bell Street
Arlington, VA 22202

A delicate Balance rund from February 6 - March 15 , 2009
Sunday, Tuesday & Wednesday Evenings at 7:30pm
Thursday, Friday & Saturday Evenings at 8:00pm
Saturday & Sunday Matinees at 2:00pm
Check calendar for exceptions and weekday matinees.

Tickets for A Delicate Balance range from $47-$66. Discount tickets are available for patrons purchasing tickets for multiple shows, students and groups. A limited number of $10 tickets for patrons ages 30 and under go on sale beginning each Monday for performances that week. (All patrons must present valid ID.) HOTTIX, a limited number of half-price, day-of-performance tickets, are available 90-30 minutes before curtain prior to every performance.

Tickets may be purchased online at www.arenastage.org, by phone at (202) 488-3300 or at the Arena Stage Sales Office at 1800 S. Bell Street, Arlington, VA 22202.