Leguizamo and Cedric the Entertainer to Star on Broadway in Mamet's 'America Buffalo'

American Buffalo is now officially confirmed to begin performances on 10/31, with an opening night date of 11/17, the play is considered one of David Mamet's signature works. The drama details the bungled heist of an old nickel by three lowlifes based in a Chicago pawnshop suggests how the language and practice of American business and power politics are insidious forces in our society. John Leguizamo and Cedric The Entertainer will star.

John Lequizamo is an Emmy and three-time ALMA award winner. As an actor, writer, director and producer, he has made an impact on theater, television and film. Leguizamo first came to national attention with his performance in his Obie- and Outer Critic Award-winning play Mambo Mouth. Leguizamo's numerous stage, screen and television appearances include his Tony Award nominated play - Freak and films such as Summer of Sam, Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge and Ice Age.  His other one-man shows include Spic-O-Rama and Sexaholix. His last film role was in the movie The Happening.

Cedric The Entertainer is considered one of the original "Kings of Comedy". He made his television debut in 1992 at Showtime at the Apollo. After that he appeared on HBO in Def Comedy Jam and BET's ComicView. Since then he has appeared in films such as Dr. Dolittle 2, Barbershop, Barbershop 2 and Be Cool. He also briefly had his own comedy show "Cedric The Entertainer Presents".

American Buffalo is a 1976 play by playwright David Mamet and won the 1977 Outer Critics Circle Award. "The play concerns a team of men, Don, Teach, Bob, and Fletcher (who does not appear in the play, but is referred to), who are conspiring to steal a coin collection from a wealthy man. Don, who owns a junk shop, sold a nickel to a man for much less than what it was worth. Out of revenge, he and his friend-in-training, Bob, plan to steal the man's coin collection after suspecting that he went away for the weekend," describes press notes.

The production will be directed by Robert Falls, who has also directed Long Day's Journey Into Night and Glengarry Glen Ross.

Photo of John Lequizamo by Peter James Zielinski