MTC to Stage World Premiere of Richard Greenberg's THE SWING OF THE SEA in 2015; Ruy Iskandar, Jodi Long, Jennifer Lim & More to Star in THE WORLD OF EXTREME HAPPINESS

Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director) and Barry Grove (Executive Producer) have announced a new world premiere play and casting news for two of Manhattan Theatre Club's upcoming 2014-2015 theatrical season productions.

Richard Greenberg will return to MTC next spring with the world premiere of THE SWING OF THE SEA, directed by Lynne Meadow at MTC at New York City Center - Stage I (131 West 55th Street).

In addition, MTC announces complete casting for the world premiere of THE WORLD OF EXTREME HAPPINESS by Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig, directed by Eric Ting. This co-production with Chicago's Goodman Theatre will feature Ruy Iskander (The Dance and the Railroad, Fox's "Gotham"), Francis Jue (M. Butterfly, "The Good Wife"), Jennifer Lim (Chinglish, This Isn't Romance at London's Soho Theatre), Jodi Long (Flower Drum Song, "Sullivan and Son"), Jo Mei (New York stage debut and star of the acclaimed independent film A Picture of You), and Andrew Pang (The King and I, "Believe").

THE SWING OF THE SEA is presented as part of MTC's 2014-2015 season, joining the previously announced world premiere productions of THE COUNTRY HOUSE by Donald Margulies, directed by Daniel Sullivan starring Blythe Danner; CONSTELLATIONS by Nick Payne, directed by Michael Longhurst starring Jake Gyllenhaal; LOST LAKE byDavid Auburn, directed by Daniel Sullivan starring John Hawkes and Tracie Thoms; and THE WORLD OF EXTREME HAPPINESS by Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig, directed by Eric Ting. Additional productions for the 2014-2015 season will be announced shortly.

MTC AT NEW YORK CITY CENTER - STAGE I

THE SWING OF THE SEA
World Premiere by RICHARD GREENBERG
Directed by LYNNE MEADOW
Previews Begin: Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Opening Night: Tuesday, June 16, 2015

The team that brought you The Assembled Parties - Tony-winning playwright Richard Greenberg (Take Me Out, Three Days of Rain) and Manhattan Theatre Club's award-winning Artistic Director Lynne Meadow (Wit, The Commons of Pensacola) - reunites for THE SWING OF THE SEA, a world-premiere play that marks the 11th collaboration between Mr. Greenberg and MTC.

Patriarch Max has died, leaving behind two sons, Brett and Alec, and a lover Vivi. All three reunite for one evening in Vivi's New York apartment. Secrets, passions and ghosts of the past emerge for this trio as each of them faces an uncertain future.

THE SWING OF THE SEA was commissioned by MTC through the U.S. Trust New American Play Commissioning Program.

MTC AT NEW YORK CITY CENTER - STAGE I

THE WORLD OF EXTREME HAPPINESS
World Premiere by FRANCES YA-CHU COWHIG
Directed by ERIC TING
Featuring RUY ISKANDAR, FRANCIS JUE, JENNIFER LIM, JODI LONG, JO MEI, ANDREW PANG
A co-production with GOODMAN THEATRE
Previews Begin: Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Opening Night: Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Unwanted from the moment she's born, Sunny (Jennifer Lim) is determined to escape her life in rural China and forge a new identity in the city. As naïve as she is ambitious, Sunny views her new job in a grueling factory as a stepping stone to untold opportunities. When fate casts her as a company spokeswoman at a sham PR event, Sunny's bright outlook starts to unravel in a series of harrowing and darkly comic events, as she begins to question a system enriching itself by destroying its own people.

Critically acclaimed in a workshop production at London's National Theatre, THE WORLD OF EXTREME HAPPINESS makes its world premiere in a co-production with Chicago's Goodman Theatre. "Hard-hitting and bruisingly funny" (Time Out London), this epic new drama by Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig is as fierce and unflinching as the world it examines. Eric Ting directs.

Both the New York and Chicago runs of the play will feature Ruy Iskander (The Dance and the Railroad, Fox's "Gotham"),Francis Jue (M. Butterfly, "The Good Wife"), Jennifer Lim (Chinglish, This Isn't Romance at London's Soho Theatre), Jodi Long (Flower Drum Song, "Sullivan and Son"), Jo Mei (New York stage debut and star of the acclaimed independent film A Picture of You), and Andrew Pang (The King and I, "Believe").

THE WORLD OF EXTREME HAPPINESS is a co-production with Goodman Theatre which will present the Chicago run of the play (September 13 - October 12 in the Owen Theatre at the Goodman) before coming to Manhattan Theatre Club.

Subscriptions for MTC's 2014-2015 season are available by calling (212) 399-3050 (Monday through Friday NOON - 9 PM, Saturday 10 AM - 2 PM) or online at www.ManhattanTheatreClub.com. Single tickets to the productions will go on sale at a later date.

Photo of Lim by Fatimah Namdar; Photo of Long by Bobby Quillard