BOARDWALK EMPIRE's Anthony Laciura and More Set for ReGroup Theatre's THE HOUSE OF CONNELLY, Now thru 2/9

83 years later - Paul Green's hit play returns to the NY stage - with its shocking original ending finally intact! On the heels of their acclaimed productions of 1931- and Success Story, The ReGroup Theatre Company Inc. turns its attention to The Group Theatre's very first play, Paul Green's The House of Connelly. With special permission and support from the Paul Green Foundation, this poetic tale gets a much overdue NY revival.

The play shows us an iconic struggle: the last dying gasps of the Old South as it tries to prevent the progression of new ideas. Wayward son Will Connelly, heir to the famous Connelly estate, finds himself unable to live up to the prestige of the legendary Connellys of the past. When Patsy, daughter of the new tenant farmer arrives on the estate, Will doesn't know what to believe. Is it love at first sight, or does she have her calculating eyes on becoming the new Mrs. Connelly? The struggles between tradition and change, between black and white, between truth and deceit come to a shocking conclusion.

In the original production, the Group commissioned Mr. Green to rewrite a more hopeful ending, but the ReGroup will be presenting Mr. Green's original ending, performed as the author intended. After 80 years, we present this jaw-dropping conclusion.

Originally produced in 1931, The House of Connelly immediately propelled The Group Theatre to prominence. In his New York Times review, Brooks Atkinson wrote that Mr. Green "has such abundant understanding, such integrity of character and such magnetism of passion that you are likely to remember the pure truth of his prose poem long after you have forgotten a thousand craftsmanlike plays about love, family and possessions."

The ReGroup's production features a 16-person cast featuring Anthony Laciura, Logan James Hall, Claire Buckingham, Tami McCarthy, Selena C. Dukes, Sheila Simmons, Charlotte Hampden, Maja Wampuszyc, Ted Morgan, Tim Gilliss, Jamie Jung, Clark Beasley Jr., Eli Bridges, Rebecca Beberaggi, Kimberley Shoniker, and Anthony Rinaldi.

The play will be staged by Allie Mulholland. Lighting is designed by Mitchell Ost, Krystle Henninger serves as Stage Manager with Laura Alley as Dialect Coach.

The House of Connelly will run tonight, Jan 23rd - Feb 9th at TBG Mainstage Theatre, 312 W 36th St, 3rd floor. Shows run Mon, Thurs-Sat at 8 PM and 3 PM on Sundays. TICKETS ON SALE VIA www.smarttix.com. In addition to The House of Connelly, The ReGroup will be presenting free staged readings of two of Mr. Green's other plays. His 1927 Pulitzer Prize winner In Abraham's Bosom will be presented at 7 PM Jan 26, and his adaptation of Richard Wright's novel Native Son will be performed 7 PM Feb 2nd. To RSVP for the reading, send your name, number of tickets requested and which reading you'd like to attend to RSVP@regrouptheatre.org.