McDonald to Star in 110 in the Shade; '06-'07 Roundabout Season Also Announced

Audra McDonald has been confirmed as the star of the Roundabout Theatre Company's upcoming revival of the Jones/Schmidt musical 110 in the Shade, one of the shows that has been announced as part of the theatre's starry 2006-2007 season.

Based on N. Richard Nash's play The Rainmaker, 110 in the Shade will star four time Tony Award-winner McDonald as the lonely Lizzie Curry and will be directed by Lonny Price. The show, which will open in spring of 2007, features music by Harvey Scmidt, lyrics by Tom Jones (both of The Fantasticks) and a book by Nash.

"The mercurial Starbuck promises rain for a drought-stricken town and passion for the stalwart but resigned Lizzie," state press notes for the show, which was a moderate hit when it opened in 1963, running for 330 performances with Inga Swenson, Robert Horton and Stephen Douglass. While the show has never been revived on Broadway, it was seen at the New York City Opera in 1992 to very positive reviews.

McDonald won Tony Awards for her performances in Carousel, Master Class, Ragtime and most recently, A Raisin in the Sun. She has also appeared on Broadway in Henry IV and Marie Christine. "Way Back to Paradise," "How Glory Goes" and "Happy Songs" are her solo albums. McDonald's film and television credits include It Runs in the Family, "Mister Sterling," Cradle Will Rock, "Law and Order: SVU," the telemusical of Annie, and the HBO movie Wit. She is also acclaimed as a concert artist.

The Roundabout has also announced the rest of its 2006-07 season with productions of George Bernard Shaw's Heartbreak House and Brian Friel's The Home Place (starring Philip Bosco) set to join the previously-announced productions of Patrick Marber's Howard Katz (starring Alfred Molina) and Greg Kotis' Pig Farm.

Howard Katz, by Marber (Closer), will star film actor and Tony Award-nominee Molina (Fiddler on the Roof, Art). Presented in winter of 2006, it traces the decline of a ruthless talent agent. The production will mark the American debut of the play. Tony Award-winner Doug Hughes (Doubt, Defiance) is set to direct.

The Home Place, by the playwright of Dancing at Lughnasa, will receive its American premiere at the Roundabout's off-Broadway Laura Pels Theatre either in the spring of the summer of 2007. "The widowed Christopher Gore, his son David and the woman they are both in love with, their housekeeper Margaret, live in The Lodge in Ballybeg," state press notes, until their seemingly serene lives are disrupted by the arrival of an English cousin. Joe Dowling will direct.

Winter of 2007 will see a production of Shaw's Heartbreak House starring Philip Bosco (Tony Award-winner for Lend Me a Tenor) as Captain Shotover. No director has yet been announced for the play, which concerns "the unlikely romantic encounters that occur in an estate on the English countryside."

Directed by John Rando (Urinetown), Pig Farm is by the co-writer of Urinetown. The show will feature Katie Finneran (Noises Off), Logan Marshall-Green (Dog Sees God) and Denis O'Hare (Sweet Charity, Assassins). "Under a pot-bellied sky on a struggling pig farm somewhere in America, Tom, Tina and their hired hand Tim fight to hold onto everything they have," state press notes, (after) "Teddy , an officer of the Environmental Protection Agency arrives."

The Roundabout is currently presenting Joe Orton's Entertaining Mr. Sloane at the Laura Pels Theatre. The Threepenny Opera, starring Alan Cumming, Ana Gasteyer, Cyndi Lauper and others, will begin performances at Studio 54 on March 24th.

To order a subscription to the Roundabout's 2006-2007 season or tickets, call (212) 719-1300. Visit www.roundabouttheatre.org for more informatino.