Deuce Reschedules First Preview for Early Date of April 11

Deuce, starring theatre legends Angela Lansbury and Marian Seldes, will begin previews a few days earlier than originally scheduled.

The play, which was originally slated to start performances on April 16th, will now begin previews on April 11th. It will, as planned, open on Sunday, May 6th at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street).

Lansbury and Seldes will star in Deuce as two former doubles tennis legends, reunited at a championship match, in Mr. McNally's warmly funny and unexpectedly moving new play.

In her 60-plus year career on stage, film and television, Lansbury received four Tony Awards® for her starring roles in Mame, Dear World, Gypsy and Sweeney Todd, three Academy Award nominations for Gaslight (her screen debut), The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Manchurian Candidate, and 18 Emmy Award nominations, including 12 for her long-running television series, "Murder, She Wrote."

Seldes won a Tony for A Delicate Balance, and has been nominated for her performances in Father's Day, Deathtrap, Ring Round the Moon, and Dinner at Eight. Last season, she starred in McNally's Dedication, or the Stuff of Dreams.

McNally has won Tony Awards for his plays, Love! Valour! Compassion! and Master Class, and for his books for the musicals, Kiss of the Spider Woman and Ragtime. Blakemore won Tony Awards in the same year for his direction of the play, Copenhagen, and the musical, Kiss Me, Kate.

Additional casting and the Deuce creative team will be announced in coming weeks.

The show will be produced on Broadway by Scott Rudin, Stuart Thompson, Maberry Theatricals, The Shubert Organization, Roger Berlind, Debra Black, Bob Boyett, Susan Dietz and Daryl Roth.

Tickets are on sale at TeleCharge at 212: 239-6200, online at www.telecharge.com, or in person at the Music Box Theatre box office (239 West 45th Street).

Visit www.DeuceOnBroadway.com for more information.

Photo of Angela Lansbury by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.