Benson, Gelber, Etc. Set for Birth and After Birth at ATC

Casting has been announced for Birth and After Birth, the new play by Tina Howe (Coastal Disturbances, Painting Churches) that will begin previews at the Atlantic Theater Company on September 13th for an October 3rd opening; it will run through October 29th.

The show "is a wildly comic tale that explores the joys and terrors of birth and parenthood. Sandy and Bill have been up all night preparing a birthday party for Nicky, their rambunctious four year-old son. Desperate to impress, Sandy and Bill frantically ready the house for their party guests, Jeffrey and Mia, childless anthropologists who study primitive children in far flung places. The party spins out of control as each couple tries to convince the other of their social and personal superiority," state press notes.

The production will star Peter Benson (The Pajama Game, Wonderful Town) as Jeffrey, Jeff Binder (The Lieutenant of Inishmore, The Lion King) as Bill, Kate Blumberg as Mia (The Syringa Tree at Atlantic), Jordan Gelber (Avenue Q) as Nicky and Maggie Kiley (The Bald Soprano and The Lesson at the Atlantic) as Sandy.  Christian Parker, Atlantic's associate artistic director, will direct the production.

"Over the last 30 years, (the play) has been taught, anthologized and has had numerous secret and illegal productions," state Atlantic notes on Birth and After Birth, which was penned by Howe in 1972.  Birth and After Birth had its official world premiere production at the Wilma Theater in Philadelphia in 1995.

The creative team will include Takeshi Kata (sets), Bobby Tilley (costumes), Joshua Bradford (lighting) and Obadiah Eves (sound).

The Atlantic Theater Company is located at 336 W. 20th St. (between 8th and 9th Avenues).  The performance schedule is: Tuesday through Friday at 8 PM, Saturday at 2 PM and 8 PM and Sundays at 3 PM. Tickets are available by calling Telecharge at (212) 239-6200 or by visiting www.telecharge.com. For membership information, wheelchair seating, and/or group sales, call (212) 691-5919, ext. 1092.

Visit www.atlantictheater.org for more information.