Bobby Cannavale Talks Guirgis, Shapiro, & THE MOTHER F**KER WITH THE HAT

In a recent interview with Broadway Beat, stage and screen star Bobby Cannavale went on the record about his latest project on the Great White Way, THE MOTHER F**KER WITH THE HAT. Cannavale told Broadway Beat, "I've been a fan of Stephen Guirgis' from the beginning. The first play I saw of his was over ten years ago, and I think that there's no other voice like him working in the theatre. He's a quintessential New York playwright."

As for how he got involved with the project, he added, "I saw a reading of this play a couple of years ago and I wasn't involved with it at all. I didn't think I'd be involved with it- the cast was pretty much set back then, and I was just excited to see a play that I knew I was gonna see more than once. So when I got the call to read for it, I just hit the roof. I think I had to read the play four or five times to get the part, and every time was a pleasure. Every time was better than the last."

"One of the exciting things for me is being in a play in which a lot of young people come to the theatre- a lot of people are first turned on to the theatre. I think Stephen's plays are sneakily accessible that way. I think young people get a kick out of his plays because there are a lot of urban issues in the play and a lot of street language, but they're also watching poetry and they don't even realize it."

On working with director Anna Shapiro he added, "We couldn't have gotten a better director for this play in particular. Stephen comes from a theatre company- he works strictly with his theatre company, and we know eachother's foibles and quirks. Anna comes from one of the most renowned theatre companies in the country- Steppenwolf. So she has all this experience of working in that environment. It's the perfect marriage."

To watch the full Broadway Beat coverage, click here.

The world premiere of Stephen Adly Guirgis' new play THE MOTHERF**KER WITH THE HAT, starring Bobby Cannavale, Chris Rock, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Annabella Sciorra and Yul Vázquez, directed by Anna D. Shapiro, opens on Monday, April 11, 2011 at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre.

The strictly limited 15-week engagement will begin previews on Tuesday, March 15, 2011. The show's cast and creative team met the press on Friday, February 18 and Broadway Beat was there, with host Richie Ridge interviewing them all!

THE MOTHERF**KER WITH THE HAT is a new high-octane, verbal cage match about love, fidelity, and misplaced haberdashery from playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis. Jackie (Cannavale) and Veronica (Rodriguez) have been in love since the 8th grade. But now, Jackie is on parole and living clean and sober under the guidance of his sponsor, Ralph D (Rock), while still living and loving with his volatile soul mate Veronica (Sciorra) who is fiercely loving, but far from sober. Still, their love is pure. And true. Nothing can come between them - except a hat.

The creative team includes scenic design by Todd Rosenthal, costume design by Mimi O'Donnelland lighting design by Donald Holder.

Tickets for THE MOTHERF**KER WITH THE HAT will be available beginning Wednesday, January 19 through Telecharge.com by phone at 212-239-6200, or 800-432-7250, or online at www.Telecharge.com. Group tickets are also available through Telecharge.com. Tickets will be available in person beginning Tuesday, February 22 at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street). Box office hours are Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

For more information, visit www.TheMFwiththeHat.com.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos