Joshua Jackson, Anne Son, Mahershala Ali & Tessa Thompson Will Lead Second Stage's SMART PEOPLE

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director, Casey Reitz Executive Director) just announced complete casting for its upcoming New York premiere production of SMART PEOPLE, the new play by LYDIA R. DIAMOND (Stick Fly), directed by Tony® Award winner KENNY LEON (A Raisin in the Sun, The Wiz Live!). MAHERSHALA ALI (House of Cards), JOSHUA JACKSON (The Affair), ANNE SON (My Generation), and TESSA THOMPSON (Creed) will co-star in the production.

Performances for SMART PEOPLE will begin on January 26, 2016 at Second Stage Theatre's Tony Kiser Theatre (305 West 43rd street); opening night is February 11, 2016. Season subscriptions are currently available through 2ST.com or by calling the box office at 212-246-4422.

The quest for love, achievement and identity is universal, but what role does race play in the story of our lives? On the eve of Obama's first election, four Harvard intellectuals find themselves entangled in a complex web of social and sexual politics in this provocative and funny new play by Lydia R. Diamond.

SMART PEOPLE will feature scenic design by Riccardo Hernandez, costume design by Paul Tazewell, sound design by Nevin Steinberg, lighting design by Jason Lyons, and projection design by Zach Borovay.

Second Stage Theatre's 2015-2016 Season kicks off with the New York premiere production ofINVISIBLE THREAD, a new musical by Matt Gould and Griffin Matthews, in association with American Repertory Theater, directed by Tony® Award winner Diane Paulus. Performances began October 31 at Second Stage Theatre's Tony Kiser Theatre (305 West 43rd street) and will officially open on December 2. The new musical, DEAR EVAN HANSEN, featuring music by Benj Pasek andJustin Paul, book by Steven Levenson, and directed by Tony® nominee Michael Greif, will also have its New York premiere at Second Stage, beginning previews March 25, 2016.

A fourth production remains to be announced.