MTC's THE COUNTRY HOUSE with Blythe Danner Opens Tomorrow

Manhattan Theatre Club's world premiere of The Country House, the new play by Pulitzer Prize winner Donald Margulies, directed by Tony Award winner Daniel Sullivan, and produced in association with the Geffen Playhouse, opens tomorrow, October 2 at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street).

The Country House stars Tony and Emmy Award winner Blythe Danner (The Commons of Pensacola, Meet the Parents), Kate Jennings Grant (The Lyons, Proof), Eric Lange (FX's "The Bridge," "Weeds"), David Rasche (Regrets Only, Speed-the-Plow), Sarah Steele (Slowgirl, Speech and Debate), and Tony nominee Daniel Sunjata (USA's "Graceland," Take Me Out).

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Donald Margulies (Time Stands Still, Sight Unseen) returns to Broadway with his tenth MTC production, a new comedy about a deeply dramatic family.

Tony and Emmy winner Blythe Danner stars as Anna Patterson, the matriarch of a brood of famous and longing-to-be-famous creative artists who have gathered at their Berkshires summerhouse during the Williamstown Theatre Festival. But when the weekend takes an unexpected turn, everyone is forced to improvise... inciting a series of simmering jealousies, romantic outbursts and passionate soul-searching.

This witty and compelling new play provides a piercing look at a family of performers coming to terms with the roles they play in each other's lives. Tony winner Daniel Sullivan (The Columnist, Time Stands Still) directs.

The Country House was commissioned by MTC through the U.S. Trust New American Play Commissioning Program. Special thanks to The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust for supporting Manhattan Theatre Club. The Country House received a world premiere co-production by Geffen Playhouse and Manhattan Theatre Club at Geffen Playhouse on June 3, 2014.

The creative team for The Country House includes John Lee Beatty (scenic design), Rita Ryack (costume design), Peter Kaczorowski (lighting design), Obadiah Eaves (sound design), Peter Golub (original music), and Thomas Schall (fight director).

The Country House is presented as part of MTC's 2014-2015 season, joining the previously announced productions of Constellations by Nick Payne, directed by Michael Longhurst starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Ruth Wilson; The Steppenwolf Production of Airline Highway by Lisa D'Amour, directed by Joe Mantello; Lost Lake by David Auburn, directed by Daniel Sullivan starring John Hawkes and Tracie Thoms; The World Of Extreme Happiness by Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig, directed by Eric Ting; The Swing Of The Sea by Richard Greenberg, directed by Lynne Meadow; and By The Water, by Sharyn Rothstein, directed by Hal Brooks. One additional production for the 2014-2015 season will be announced shortly.

Under the leadership of Artistic Director Lynne Meadow and Executive Producer Barry Grove, MTC has become one of the country's most prominent and prestigious theatre companies. Over the past four and a half decades, MTC productions have earned numerous awards including six Pulitzer Prizes and 19 Tony Awards. MTC has a Broadway home at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street) and two Off-Broadway theatres at New York City Center (131 West 55th Street). Renowned MTC productions include Casa Valentina; Outside Mullingar; The Assembled Parties; Venus in Fur; Master Class; Good People; The Whipping Man; Time Stands Still; The Royal Family; Ruined; Come Back, Little Sheba; Blackbird; Shining City; Rabbit Hole; Doubt; Proof; The Tale of the Allergist's Wife; Love! Valour! Compassion!; A Small Family Business; Sylvia; Putting It Together; Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune; Crimes of the Heart; and Ain't Misbehavin.' For more information on MTC, please visit www.ManhattanTheatreClub.com.

The Geffen Playhouse has been a hub of the Los Angeles theater scene since opening its doors in 1995. Noted for its intimacy and celebrated for its world-renowned mix of classic and contemporary plays, provocative new works and second productions, the Geffen Playhouse continues to present a body of work that has garnered national recognition. Named in honor of entertainment mogul and philanthropist David Geffen, who made the initial donation to the theater, the company was founded by Gilbert Cates, and is currently helmed by Artistic Director Randall Arney, Managing Director Ken Novice, General Manager Behnaz Ataee, Chief Development Officer Regina Miller and Co-Chairs of the Board Martha Henderson and Pamela Robinson Hollander. Proudly associated with UCLA, the Geffen Playhouse welcomes an audience of more than 130,000 each year, and maintains an extensive education and outreach program, designed to engage young people and the community at large in the arts. For more information, please visit www.geffenplayhouse.com.

Tickets for The Country House are available by calling Telecharge at 212-239-6200, online by visiting www.Telecharge.com, or by visiting the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre Box Office (261 West 47th Street). Ticket prices are $67 - $125.

Subscriptions for MTC's 2014-2015 season are available by calling (212) 399-3050 (Monday through Friday NOON - 9 PM, Saturday 10 AM - 3 PM) or online at www.ManhattanTheatreClub.com.

Photo Credit: Joan Marcus