LAByrinth Theater Company has announced final casting for the World Premiere Production of The Atmosphere of Memory by David Bar Katz. Performances begin Saturday, October 15th with Opening Night scheduled for October 30th at Labyrinth's new home, the Bank Street Theater for a limited engagement through Sunday, November 13th.
Joining previously announced Academy, Emmy, and Tony Award-Winner
Ellen Burstyn will be
Max Casella ("The Sopranos," "Boardwalk Empire"),
Kelley Curran (Angels in America, Henry V),
David Deblinger (The Wood, Our Lady of 121st Street), Tony Award-winner
John Glover (Love! Valour! Compassion!, Waiting for Godot),
Charles Goforth (underneathmybed, Henry V),
Paul Kandel (The Who's Tommy, One Flea Spare),
Kelley Rae O'Donnell (Heal Me Television, The 24 Hour Plays),
Melissa Ross (Our Lady of 121st Street, A Winter Party), and
Sidney Williams (Little Flower of East Orange, Identical Same Temptation).
As previously announced,
Pam MacKinnon will direct the production, with Scenic Design by
David Gallo, Costume Design by
Emily Rebholz, Lighting Design by Dans Sheehan, and Sound Design by Brendan Connelly.
The Atmosphere of Memory opens Labyrinth's 2011/12 season and tells the story of playwright Jon Stone, who has recently found the courage to write his masterpiece: a play about his upbringing. But when his actual mother is cast to play his mother on stage and his estranged father remembers the family history differently, Jon is forced to rewrite, not only his play, but his past as well. With twists hilarious and heartbreaking, playwright Katz (
Philip Roth in Khartoum, Freak) turns Williams and O'Neill on their heads by imagining a world where the boundaries between life and art, fact and fiction, are as blurry as The Atmosphere of Memory itself.
Tickets are now available at
labtheater.org.
Labyrinth is committed to making theater affordable and accessible to all of New York. Tickets for this production start at just $25.
Following the successful Broadway engagement of the Tony-nominated Best Play, The Motherf**ker with the Hat by
Stephen Adly Guirgis, Labyrinth has found a new home for its 20th season, taking up residence at the newly rechristened, Bank Street Theater (155 Bank Street), a Greenwich Village landmark, formerly known as The Cherry Pit.
LAByrinth Theater Company offers an opportunity for theater patrons to become part of one of New York's most exciting theater companies with our LABPASS Membership. For just $35, LABPASS Members enjoy a host of exclusive benefits including steep discounts and pre-sale opportunities for all productions, advanced reservation privileges to our free Barn Series readings, Members only workshop performances of new plays, as well as invitations to special Member events throughout the year.
For additional information, or to order a LABPASS Membership, visit the website
www.labtheater.org.
Ellen Burstyn is a member of
LAByrinth Theater Company. Her illustrious acting career encompasses film, stage and television. She became a "triple crown winner" when she won an Emmy for her guest appearance in "Law & Order: SVU" (2009) to add to her Oscar win for Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974) and her Tony Award for Same Time, Next Year (1974) on Broadway. Ellen has been nominated for an Academy Award five other times for The Last Picture Show (1972), The Exorcist (1973), Same Time, Next Year, (1979), Resurrection (1981), and Requiem for a Dream (2000). Her many theater credits include the Broadway production of 84 Charing Cross Road (1982), the acclaimed one-woman play Shirley Valentine (1989) and Sacrilege (1995). She received glowing reviews in
Stephen Adly Guirgis' play The Little Flower of East Orange (2008), directed by
Philip Seymour Hoffman at
The Public Theater in New York. Earlier this year, Ellen appeared in London's West End in
Lillian Hellman's The Children's Hour to rave reviews. Ellen was the first woman elected president of Actors Equity Association (1982-85), and served as the Artistic Director of the famed Actors Studio where she studied with the late
Lee Strasberg. She continues to be active there as co-president with
Al Pacino and
Harvey Keitel. Academically, Ellen holds four honorary doctorates, one in Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts, a Doctor of Humane Letters from Dowling College, a doctorate from the New School for Social Research, and a doctorate from Pace University where she teaches in
The Actors Studio M.F.A. program. Ellen lectures throughout the country on a wide range of topics, and became a national best-selling author with the publication in 2006 of her memoir, Lessons in Becoming Myself, published by Riverhead Press. In addition to a continuing and thriving acting career, Ellen is writing a screenplay, as well as planning a book of her photography accompanied by her favorite poetry.
Max Casella was a cast member of HBO's original iconic series "The Sopranos" for five seasons, playing "Benny Fazio," a loyal member of Tony Soprano's crew and was featured in the final episode. Max portrayed Nucky Thompson's nemesis, Leo D'Allessio, throughout the first season of HBO's hit series, "Boardwalk Empire." He can currently be seen starring in John Turturro's Passione, playing in theaters now. Max just completed Cogan's Trade with Brad Pitt, directed by Andrew Dominik. He recently starred opposite Richard Thomas in Timon of Athens at the NY Public Theater. He also just wrapped Somewhere Tonight with John Turturro. Other recent films include Revolutionary Road, Leatherheads and Big Momma's House 3. Max was in the critically acclaimed mini-series "The Bronx Is Burning" with John Turturro. He was Clov to John Turturro's Hamm in Samuel Beckett's Endgame at the Brooklyn Academy Of Music. Max also starred opposite John and Aida Turturro in Souls of Naples both Off-Broadway and in Naples, Italy. Max and John recently collaborated and co-wrote Fiabe Italiane which toured Italy in 2010. Max's work on Broadway includes The Music Man, playing Marcellus Washburn, and as "Timon" in the original cast of the Tony award-winning musical The Lion King. He received a Theatre World award for Outstanding Broadway Debut, as well as a Drama Desk nomination. Max first became widely known in his role as Vinnie on the hit television series "DoogieHowser, M.D.," produced by Steven Bochco. Roles in major motion pictures include Disney's Newsies with Christian Bale and Robert Duvall, Tim Burton's Ed Wood opposite Johnny Depp, Sgt. Bilko opposite Steve Martin, and Analyze This with Robert De Niro. He has also lent his voIce To roles in Disney animated features including Dinosaur, and the "Jak and Daxter" games for Sony Playstation. Max was born in Washington, D.C. and grew up in Boston, Massachusetts where he honed his skills as an actor in regional theater in productions such as Tom Stoppard's Night and Day and Cyrano de Bergerac at the prestigious Huntington Theater. Max is a member of the New York City based Rising Phoenix Repertory Theatre Company.
Kelley Curran: Off-Broadway: Angels In America (
Signature Theatre Company -
Lucille Lortel Award, Outstanding Revival), Henry V (New Victory), Jane Eyre, The Spy, The Tempest, Moby Dick - Rehearsed (
The Acting Company), Knives & Spoons Go On the Right (59E59), Violent Delights (The Public). Regional: Shakespeare & Company, The Guthrie,
McCarter Theatre,
Alabama Shakespeare Festival,
Arizona Theatre Company, The Barnstormers Theatre. Film: Still On the Road. Training: B.A., Fordham at Lincoln Center,
The Public Theater Shakespeare Lab, BADA at Oxford. Honors: 2005 Princess Grace Award Nominee.
David Deblinger is a co-founder of
LAByrinth Theater Company. Theater: The Wood (
Rattlestick Playwrights Theater), Sirens (Peguin Rep), The History of Invulnerability by
David Bar Katz (
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park - Acclaim Award Winner, Best Actor), Animals Out of Paper by
Rajiv Joseph (SF Playhouse), Dirty Story (Labyrinth), written and directed by
John Patrick Shanley, and Our Lady of 121st Street (Labyrinth), directed by
Philip Seymour Hoffman. Television: "Damages" (FX), "Walker, Texas Ranger" (CBS), "Sex and the City," "Sopranos," (HBO), "Club Land" (Showtime), "Law and Order," "Law and Order, SVU" (NBC). Film: Remember Me, Kiss Me Guido, Frogs for Snakes, Kicked in the Head, A Price Above Rubies, Ten Benny, Jungle Juice. Writer/director of short films "The Call Back" (with
Sam Rockwell - Audience Award, Best Short at the San Diego Int'l Film Festival) and "Shakespearean Minute" (with
David Zayas - New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship Award).
John Glover received a Tony and Obie Award; and a Drama Desk nomination for Love! Valour! Compassion!, Roundabout: Waiting for Godot (Tony and Drama League Nominations), The Marriage of Bette and Boo, The Paris Letter (Drama Desk,
Lucille Lortel, and Drama League Nominations), Give Me Your Answer Do. Broadway: The Royal Family, The Drowsy Chaperone, Design For Living, Whodunnit, Frankenstein, The Importance of Being Earnest, Holiday, Chemin De Fer, The Visit, Don Juan, The Great God Brown (Drama Desk Award). Off-Broadway: Secrets of the Trade, Sorrows and Rejoicings, Oblivion Postponed, The Fairy Garden, Digby, A Scent of Flowers, Rebel Women, Criminal Minds, and the original House of Blue Leaves at the Truck Warehouse. Regional: The Lisbon Traviata (Kennedy Center, Helen Hayes Nomination), Secrets of the Trade (LA's Black Dahlia Theatre, Ovation and LA Drama Critics Circle Awards); The Traveler (
Mark Taper Forum, LA Drama Critics Circle Award); Some Men (
Philadelphia Theatre Company, Barrymore Nomination), The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? (
Philadelphia Theatre Company, Barrymore Nomination); A Winter's Tale (
American Shakespeare Festival, Bayfield Award). On television he has appeared in "An Early Frost," "Nutcracker: Murder, Money, and Madness," "Brimstone" as the Devil, "Smallville," and "Heroes." Glover has received five Emmy nominations and has appeared in over 35 films including Payback, Batman and Robin, Love! Valour! Compassion!, Gremlins II, Scrooged, The Chocolate War, Masquerade, 52 Pick-Up, White Nights, Melvin and Howard, Julia, and
Annie Hall.
Charles Goforth Off-Broadway: underneathmybed by
Florencia Lozano (
Rattlestick Playwrights Theater), Fluellen in Henry V (New York Classical Theater). Regional: John F. Kennedy in Little Eagles (
Royal Shakespeare Company), Wintergreen in Catch 22, Cassius in Julius Caesar (Aquila), Chris in All My Sons (Schwartz Center at Cornell), Young Ebeneezer (San Diego Rep.). Member of
LAByrinth Theater Company.
Paul Kandel Broadway: Jesus Christ Superstar (King Herod), The Who's Tommy (Uncle Ernie, Tony Nomination), Titanic (Ismay), A Christmas Carol (Jacob Marley), The Visit. Off-Broadway: Shockheaded Peter, Silence!, One Flea Spare (NYSF/Obie/Best Play), Earthand Sky, Twenty Fingers, Twenty Toes, Lucky Stiff, Taming of the Shrew, Scrambled Feet, Nightclub Cantana, Two Grown Men. TV: "Sally Hemmings," "The Client," "Fool's Fire," "Law & Order." Film: Clopin in Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame and Hunchback, Part Deux
Kelley Rae O'Donnell: Member of
LAByrinth Theater Company. Producer/Host/Creator of "WE Buzz with The Video Chick" for Women's Entertainment Television. Theater credits include: Heal Me Television (Labyrinth Barn Series), Action Philosophers!, The 24 Hour Plays, Rosa's Little Jar of Fear (+30 NYC), Cynthia & The Dreadful Kite, Fight Girl Battle World (Vampire Cowboys - NY Innovative Theater Award Best Ensemble). Films include: The Thorny Rose (Cherry Films - Kenny Hillman, Tricia Cooke and Carrie Schrader), The Saint of Avenue B, On Your Mark directed/written by Dylan Kidd, and Acme Pictures Summer Project directed by Michael Nigro and Perry Grebin.
Melissa Ross: Melissa's acting credits with Labyrinth include Our Lady of 121st Street (wr.
Stephen Adly Guirgis, dir.
Philip Seymour Hoffman) and A Winter Party (wr.
John Patrick Shanley, dir.
John Gould Rubin). Her play Thinner Than Water was presented at The Bank Street Theater in the Winter of 2011 and she has received readings and workshops at 24Seven Lab, Electric Pear Productions,
LAByrinth Theater Company,
Manhattan Theater Club, and
Rattlestick Playwrights Theater. Melissa is a graduate of Bennington College, a Lila Acheson Wallace Playwriting Fellow at The Juilliard School, a recipient of the Le Comte Du Nouy Award, and a proud member of
LAByrinth Theater Company.
Sidney Williams was the vocalist and bass guitarist for the punk rock power trio "homemade sin" from 1986 - 1991. As an actor he has performed Off-Broadway in
Stephen Adly Guirgis's Little Flower of East Orange,
Bob Glaudini's Identical Same Temptation, and Andrea Ciannevei's Pretty Chin Up. His other New York stage credits include Nothing from the Notebooks of
Richard Foreman, Michael Puzzo's The Dirty Talk, Kelly Stewart's Mayhem, Craig muMs Grant's Paradox of the Urban Cliché, among numerous others. He has appeared in the films Haunts, Up to the Roof and Handsome Harry. His TV credits include "Law & Order,""Sopranos," "Ghost Stories with Rip Torn" and "Louie." He is a member of the
LAByrinth Theater Company and
The Actors Studio. At
The Actors Studio Sidney participated in the
Al Pacino and
Estelle Parsons project "Oedipus" and the Opera "Dynamite Tonite!" directed by
Rip Torn.
Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos
