Mary Beth Peil, Michael Laurence to Lead Primary Stages' THE MORINI STRAD

Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Founder & Executive Producer; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director) concludes its 27th season with the New York premiere of The Morini Strad, a new play by Willy Holtzman (Sabina). Directed by Casey Childs, the cast will feature Michael Laurence (Krapp39, Broadway's Talk Radio, Opus at Primary Stages), Tony Award® nominee Mary Beth Peil ("The Good Wife," "Dawson's Creek," The King and I), and celebrated violin soloist Hanah Stuart (Chicago Symphony, Zankel Hall). The limited engagement will play March 20 – April 28 at Primary Stages at 59E59 Theaters. Opening night is April 3rd.

Inspired by the true New York story of concert violinist Erica Morini and her legendary Stradivarius violin, The Morini Strad is a delicate duet between Erica, a difficult former child prodigy, and Brian, a stubbornly independent violin maker she hires to restore and then sell her beloved Strad. As Brian makes the arrangements, the question of what will become of the priceless instrument threatens to destroy their unexpected friendship. Through classical music and fiery confrontations, Brian and Erica must face the choices they've made about their music and their lives.

"Primary Stages has enjoyed a long and productive relationship developing and producing the plays of Willy Holtzman," says director and Primary Stages Founder and Executive Producer Casey Childs. "With his new work, The Morini Strad, Willy challenges us to examine the commitment of artists to society and to themselves. The script is a magical concerto about the nature of friendship and being true to one's artistic potential."

The Morini Strad features a set design by Neil Patel, costume design by David C. Woolard, lighting design by Mary Louise Geiger, original music and sound design by Lindsay Jones, and projection design by Jan Hartley.

The Morini Strad plays a limited engagement through March 20 – April 28 at Primary Stages at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street, between Park and Madison Avenues). Opening night is Tuesday, April 3 at 7:00 pm. Performances are Tuesday-Thursday at 7:00pm, Friday at 8:00pm, Saturday at 2:00pm & 8:00pm, with Sunday matinees at 3:00pm on March 25, and April 1 and 8. There will be a special matinee on Wednesday April 11 at 2:00pm. Single tickets are priced at $45 for preview performances (March 20 – April 1) and $65 for all performances after April 3. Tickets may be purchased by calling Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 , online at www.primarystages.org, or in person at the 59E59 Theaters Box Office. Group Tickets (10+) are $35 each for preview performances and $45 each for all performances after April 3, and are available by calling (212) 840-9705 , ext. 204. Please visit the website at www.primarystages.org, or call (212) 840-9705 for additional information.

The special Pay What You Can ticket offer (now in its fifth season at Primary Stages) will be available for the first two preview performances on March 20 and 21 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets will be available two hours prior to curtain at a minimum of $1 per ticket and are limited to two tickets per person, cash only with no change given. Patrons must provide mailing address and tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, only at the 59E59 Theaters Box Office.

For theater patrons 35 and under, Primary Stages offers specially priced $20 tickets (maximum two tickets per valid ID). Advance tickets are available through Ticket Central using code PS35. Failure to present a valid ID will result in an additional fee. All tickets are subject to availability.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION: Primary Stages recently announced the first three productions for their 2012-2013 four-play season: Harrison, TX: Three Plays by Horton Foote (July 24 – September 15, 2012); Him, a new play by Daisy Foote (September 21 – October 27, 2012); and a 20th Anniversary revival of All in the Timing by David Ives (January 22 – March 3, 2013). A 4-play subscription for the Primary Stages 2012-2013 season range from $132-$172. A 5-play subscription (The Morini Strad and 12/13 season) is $165-$215. Subscriptions can be purchased via www.primarystages.org.

Photo Credit: Genevieve Rafter-Keddy