Leighton Meester To Play Curley's Wife In OF MICE AND MEN On Broadway

Producer David Binder announced today that Leighton Meester ("Gossip Girl", Country Strong) will join Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner James Franco and Chris O'Dowd in Of Mice and Men on Broadway, in a new production directed by Tony Award winner Anna D. Shapiro.

OF MICE AND MEN, one of the greatest and most enduring American classics, has not been seen on Broadway in 40 years.

Leighton Meester will essay the role of Curley's Wife in the period-set drama.

Performances begin March 19, 2014 and officially opens April 16, 2014 at the Longacre Theatre on Broadway (220 West 48th Street, NYC). Tickets go on sale beginning January 11, 2014. This is a strictly limited engagement through July 27, 2014 only.

Meester began her career performing in regional theatre before receiving critical acclaim for her portrayal of "Blair Waldorf" on the hit show "Gossip Girl." She had recurring roles on a variety of long running shows including "24," "Entourage" and "House." Meester is also a singer/songwriter and among other movies, starred opposite Gwyneth Paltrow and Tim McGRaw in the feature film Country Strong.

David Binder is producing Of Mice and Men on Broadway with Kate Lear, Darren Bagert, Adam Zotovich, Barbara Whitman and Latitude Link. 101 Productions, Ltd are the executive producers.

James Franco (George) is an actor, director, screenwriter, producer, teacher and author. He began his career on the cult television program "Freaks and Geeks" and received a Golden Globe Award for playing the title character in the TV biographical film "James Dean." Notable film credits include playing Oz the Great and Powerful, Spring Breakers, "Harry Osborn" in the Spider-Man trilogy, Milk and 127 Hours for which he received an Academy Award, SAG and Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor.

Chris O'Dowd (Lennie) was most recently seen starring in award winning feature film The Sapphires, and is well known for his starring role in Bridesmaids and the HBO/BBC series "Family Tree." His theatre credits include the critically acclaimed and sold out Druid production of The Playboy of the Western World directed by Garry Hynes and Under the Blue Sky at Duke of York's Theatre in the West End.

Anna D. Shapiro (Director) returns to Broadway following her acclaimed productions of August: Osage County (Tony Award winner for Best Direction) and The Motherfucker with the Hat (Tony Award nomination for Best Direction). Her production of Bruce Norris' Domesticated is currently playing at Lincoln Center Theatre.

The rest of the cast and design team will be announced shortly.

Adapted from his own classic novel, John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men is an essential adventure, an inspirational portrait of the American spirit and a heartbreaking testament to the bonds of friendship.

Of Mice and Men tells the story of George (James Franco) and Lennie (Chris O'Dowd), an unlikely pair of friends drifting from job to job across The Farms and fields of California, holding fast to their dream of one day having an acre of land they can call their own.

Of Mice and Men is one of the most read books in schools across the country despite appearing on the American Library Association's list of Most Challenged Books of the 21st Century. Of Mice and Men began as a novella published in 1937 by Nobel Prize winning author John Steinbeck. Of Mice and Men was adapted for the screen several times and adapted as a radio play for the BBC. The first stage production was directed by George S. Kaufman in 1937 and ran for 207 performances.

American Express Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning January 11, 2014 through January 22, 2014. Beginning January 23, advance tickets are available to members of Audience Rewards, the official rewards program of Broadway by visiting AudienceRewards.com. Of Mice and Men goes on-sale to the general public beginning January 26, 2014.