CSC's NATHAN THE WISE, Starring F. Murray Abraham and Stark Sands, Opens Tonight

Classic Stage Company welcomes two-time Tony Award nominee Stark Sands (Kinky Boots, Journey's End) and Academy Award winner F. Murray Abraham in Gotthold Ephraim Lessing's NATHAN THE WISE. The production began performances on March 23 at CSC (136 East 13th Street). Directed by Brian Kulick and adapted by Edward Kemp, NATHAN THE WISE will have its official press opening tonight, April 13, and play a limited engagement through Sunday, May 1.

Also featured in the cast of NATHAN THE WISE are George Abud, Austin Durant, John Christopher Jones, Shiva Kalaiselvan, Caroline Lagerfelt and Erin Neufer. Set design is by Tony Straiges, costumes by Anita Tavich, lighting by Joe Novak and sound by Matt Stine.

Following his acclaimed performance in Galileo, F. Murray Abraham returns to CSC in NATHAN THE WISE, set in Jerusalem, 1192, when Muslims, Christians and Jews live side by side thanks to a fragile truce that could collapse at any moment. As the tension mounts a question arises from the ruling Sultan: "which religion is the one most beloved by God?" Nathan, a pious Jewish merchant, is charged with answering this question to help secure the continued safety of his people. Next to Shylock, Nathan the Wise is perhaps the greatest Jewish character in all of Western dramatic literature.

NATHAN THE WISE will perform Tuesdays through Thursdays at 7 pm; Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 3 pm. Tickets are $60 on weeknights and $65 on weekends and are available at www.classicstage.org or by calling (212) 352-3101 / 866-811-4111 or at the box-office at 136 East 13th Street, New York City (between Third and Fourth Avenues).