Marisa Tomei Headlines Beirut Reading for MCC, April 17

Marisa Tomei--who won a 1987 Dramalogue Award for her performance in the original production of Alan Bowne's Beirut--will take on the same role in MCC's reading of the play. The reading--which is closed to the public--will take place on Monday, April 17th at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher St.).

The one night only presentation of its inaugural play, BEIRUT by Alan Bowne is presented in honor of the late playwright and the company's 20th anniversary season celebration. BEIRUT reunites MCC with director Jimmy Bohr and original cast members TERRY RABINE and Academy® Award-winner MARISA TOMEI, in the roles they originated for MCC twenty years ago. BEIRUT concludes MCC's 2005-2006 "Theater for Thought" staged reading series, which included revivals of two landmark MCC productions, Margaret Edson's Pulitzer prize-winning Wit and Russell Lees' Nixon's Nixon.

BEIRUT, Alan Bowne's apocalyptic vision of a totalitarian future, has been produced by scores of theaters all over the world. Set in the 'near future,' a young man named Torch (Shawn Hatosy) has been quarantined to a dark, squalid room on the Lower East Side of New York City, after testing positive for a nameless, sexually transmitted disease. In his grimy cell which the locals refer to as "Beirut," Torch passes the time alone, forbidden from contact with the moral population of the outside world. His uninfected girlfriend, Blue (Marisa Tomei), makes the dangerous journey across the quarantine line to be with him. Torch tries to keep her at room's length and for the next hour, they argue lovingly, jokingly, fearfully, bravely and desperately about sex and death. All the while, Torch pleads with Blue to leave before his resistance fails and he infects her. She chooses the possibility of infection: 'I can live without sex and feel dead or risk death and feel alive.'

Of her role in BEIRUT, Tomei said "MCC gave me the most important theatrical experience of my life. Every artistic value that guides me came from that experience." New York Times theater critic Walter Goodman wrote in his April 4, 1987 review of BEIRUT, "The marvel of Mr. Bowne's work is the richly raunchy language, tuned to the gritty rhythms of the street. It's crude yet lyrical; even at its most scatological, the dialogue sings."

BEIRUT was first presented at the Nat Horne Theater (Theater Row) in April 1987 as part of MCC's annual "Class One Acts" festival, and later transferred to the Westside Arts Theater in June of 1987 (Barbara Darwell and Peter vonMayrhauser produced the Off-Broadway transfer with MCC). Actor Michael David Morrison, who originated the role of Torch in both NY productions, passed away on February 18, 1993.

BEIRUT Production History:

-April 1987, World Premiere at MCC's "Class One Acts" festival, Nat Horne Theater, NYC. Directed by Jimmy Bohr, starring Marisa Tomei, Michael David Morrison, Terry Rabine.

-June 1987, Westside Arts Theater, NYC. Directed by Jimmy Bohr, starring Laura San Giacomo, Michael David Morrison, Terry Rabine.

-1987, Matrix Theatre, Los Angeles. Directed by Jimmy Bohr, starring Marisa Tomei, Jason Patric, Pat Skipper.

MCC THEATER PRODUCTION HISTORY

MCC Theater began its 20th anniversary 3-play mainstage season at the Lucille Lortel Theatre with Laura Wade's Colder Than Here starring Judith Light, Lily Rabe, Sarah Paulson and Brian Murray. Glen Berger's The Wooden Breeks, directed by Trip Cullman, followed. MCC concludes its 2005-06 season by reuniting Fat Pig playwright Neil LaBute and director Jo Bonney for the US premiere of LaBute's Some Girl(s), beginning previews on May 17 (June 8 opening). Some Girl(s) stars Fran Drescher, Eric McCormack, Judy Reyes, Brooke Smith and Maura Tierney. This staging will mark the fourth LaBute work produced by MCC following The Mercy Seat, The Distance From Here and Fat Pig. MCC also produced a one-night benefit evening of LaBute one-act plays, collectively titled Autobahn.

MCC Theater performs its 20th anniversary season at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, 121 Christopher Street, between Bleecker and Hudson Streets. For season subscriptions or tickets to Some Girl(s), call Ticket Central.com at (212) 279-4200.

"BEIRUT" - CAST (in alphabetical order)

SHAWN HATOSY (Torch) made his stage debut as Billy the Kid in The Collected Works of Billy the Kid at the La Jolla Playhouse for directors Des MacAnuff and Kate Whorisky. This past fall, he starred opposite Al Pacino in the Lyle Kessler's Orphans at the Greenway Court Theatre in Los Angeles, directed by Ulu Grosbard. Off-Broadway, Hatosy starred in Paul Weitz' Roulette, directed by Trip Cullman. Feature films include: In & Out, Outside Providence, The Faculty, Simpatico, Anywhere But Here, Borstal Boy, John Q, The Cooler, Dallas 362, and Swimmers (Sundance 2005), Nobel Son, Alpha Dog (Sundance 2006) and the upcoming Factory Girl. Television: "Soldier's Girl" (Showtime), "Witness Protection" (HBO), and as John McCain in "Faith of My Fathers" (A&E).

TERRY RABINE (Guard) originated the role of the Guard in Beirut for MCC in 1987 and later reprised the role in the Off-Broadway transfer at the Westside Arts Theater. Currently, Terry is a freelance actor/director and voice talent in the Capital Region of upstate New York. His directing credits include To Kill a Mockingbird, The Lion in Winter, Macbeth, The Nerd, Marvin's Room, Eastern Standard, Lend Me a Tenor, The Diviners and a touring production of his adaptation of A Christmas Carol with Barry Williams. Recent onstage appearances include You Can't Take It With You at Capital Repertory Theatre, Play by Play with Stageworks-Hudson and The Foreigner with the Dorset Theatre Festival where he is slated to appear this summer in Tom Jones.

MARISA TOMEI (Blue) originated the role of Blue in Beirut for MCC in 1987 and later reprised the role in the Los Angeles production. She also appeared in Bowne's Sharon and Billy for MCC in 1988. Tomei received an Academy Award for her role in the hit comedy My Cousin Vinny. Best known for rich comic performances, Tomei took a dramatic turn with In The Bedroom, earning her second Academy Award nomination. Marisa's diverse film credits include: Alfie, Anger Management, The Guru, Happy Accidents, What Women Want, Slums Of Beverly Hills, Welcome To Sarajevo, The Perez Family, A Brother's Kiss, Unhook The Stars (Screen Actor's Guild nomination), and the upcoming Marilyn Hotchkiss and Loverboy (both featured at Sundance 2005), and Factotum (Directors Fortnight at Cannes 2005). On stage, Tomei was seen on Broadway opposite Al Pacino in Salome in the title role. This past summer, Marisa starred in Design For Living at the Williamstown Theater Festival. Previous theater credits include: We Won't Pay! We Won't Pay!, Waiting For Lefty and Rocket To The Moon. Marisa is a member of the Naked Angels Theater Company in NYC.

CREATIVE TEAM BIOGRAPHIES

ALAN BOWNE (Playwright) was the author of several plays that have been produced in New York and regional theatres, including The Able Bodied Seamen (part of MCC's Class One Acts Festival, 1993), Beirut (Off-off-Broadway, MCC Theater; Off-Broadway, Westside Arts Theater, 1987), Sharon and Billy (part of MCC's Class One Acts Festival, 1988; Magic Theatre, San Francisco, 1986, 1987), A Snake in the Vein (part of MCC's Class One Acts Festival, 1990; Off-off Broadway, The Limbo Theatre, 1985), and Forty-Deuce (Off-Broadway, Perry St Theatre, 1981). Mr. Bowne authored two screenplays for filmmaker Paul Morrissey: Mixed Blood (1984) and Throwback (1988). He received the Arthur Foundation Prize in 1986, and was a member of New Dramatists. Mr. Bowne died in 1989.

JIMMY BOHR (Director) directed the original New York and Los Angeles productions of Alan Bowne's Beirut, as well as Bowne's plays The Able Bodied Seaman and A Snake in the Vein both for MCC. Other MCC productions include DaCarravaggio; June 8, 1968; Bikini Snow and Endless Air, Endless Water. In New York, he has directed for Ensemble Studio Theatre, The Roundabout and the Lark Theatre. Regionally, he has directed at the New Jersey and Kentucky Shakespeare Festivals, The Magic Theatre, Fleetwood Stage, The New Harmony Project and Walnut Street among others. Jimmy was a casting director for CBS Television for many years and is currently teaching at AMDA and the School for Film and Television.

MCC THEATER (Producer). Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey and William Cantler, artistic directors; John G. Schultz, executive director. Now in its 20th year, MCC Theater is one of New York City's leading off-Broadway theater companies, committed to presenting New York and world premieres each season. When MCC Theater was founded in 1986, its mission was simple: to bring new theatrical voices to theater-going audiences. MCC Theater continues to accomplish this yearly through presentation of its mainstage works; its Literary Program, which actively seeks and develops new and emerging writers; and its Education and Outreach Program, allowing more than 1,200 students yearly to experience theater, increase literacy and discover their own voices in the arts. Notable MCC Theater highlights include: the 2004 Tony-winning production of Bryony Lavery's Frozen as well as Ms. Lavery's Last Easter; Neil LaBute's Fat Pig, The Distance from Here, and The Mercy Seat; Rebecca Gilman's The Glory of Living; Marsha Norman's Trudy Blue; Margaret Edson's Pulitzer prize-winning Wit; and Tim Blake Nelson's The Grey Zone. Over the years, the dedication to the work of new and emerging artists has earned MCC Theater a variety of awards. For more information and a complete production history, visit online at www.MCCTheater.org.