MTC Extends THE EXPLORERS CLUB & CHOIR BOY Through 8/4

Manhattan Theatre Club announced today that it has extended for their acclaimed Off-Broadway productions of THE EXPLORERS CLUB and CHOIR BOY at New York City Center (131 West 55th Street).

THE EXPLORERS CLUB, the world premiere comedy by Tony Award nominee Nell Benjamin, directed by Marc Bruni, has been extended by two weeks at Stage I. Tickets are now on sale through Sunday, August 4 for the play Time Out New York called, "A freewheeling farce given a seriously demented production by an inspired cast. THE EXPLORERS CLUB is a sweet summer concoction that goes down easy and gets you happy."

Tarell Alvin McCraney's CHOIR BOY, the new play featuring gospel music directed by Trip Cullman, has been extended by two weeks as part of MTC's The Studio at Stage II - Harold and Mimi Steinberg New Play Series. Tickets for CHOIR BOY are now on sale through Sunday, August 4. The play, opened last night to rave reviews from critics and New York Magazine said of the production, "Savory wit, lively dialectics, gorgeously sung and staged musical sequences make a year at the Charles R. Drew Academy fly by much too quickly.

In addition, Manhattan Theatre Club's world premiere of THE ASSEMBLED PARTIES, the new play by Tony Award winner Richard Greenberg, directed by MTC's award winning artistic director Lynne Meadow begins the final 31 performances of its Tony Award-winning engagement at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street).

The New York Times called THE ASSEMBLED PARTIES, "Spellbinding! Under the loving direction of Lynne Meadow, Jessica Hechtis enchanting and transfixing. She is charm incarnate. Judith Light is first-class. The cast members revel in having such delicious words to deliver, and they do the dialogue proud."

THE ASSEMBLED PARTIES must close on Sunday, July 28 due to previously planned technical renovations taking place at the Friedman before the start of the 2013-2014 theatrical season. When it closes, THE ASSEMBLED PARTIES will be the longest-running show in MTC's 10-year history at the Friedman, eclipsing the runs of past hits including Venus in Fur, Good People, Time Stands Still, and Rabbit Hole. THE ASSEMBLED PARTIES was nominated for three Tony Awards including Best Play. Judith Light received her second consecutive Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in Play for her work in the production.

Tickets for THE EXPLORERS CLUB are available at the New York City Center Box Office (131 West 55th Street), CityTix (212-581-1212), and www.nycitycenter.org. Ticket prices are $85.

Photo Credit: Joan Marcus