Michael McKean Chats SUPERIOR DONUTS to Newsday

The Broadway transfer of Steppenwolf's new American play "Superior Donuts" at the Music Box Theatre celebrated its official opening night on Thursday, October 1, 2009 to superior reviews. Due to popular demand, the producers have announced that the show has extended its booking period through March 2010. Star Michael McKean spoke about the show to Newsday.

What attracted you to this role?

It was a character I knew right away from my first introduction of reading the script. It was a person who had to deal with the possibility of being drafted in the Army during the Vietnam War. I was very lucky to get a high lottery number, so I became sort of irrelevant. Several people I knew said, "You know what, I'm going to Canada," and that's what Arthur did. . . . I knew it was Tracy Letts, a great draw right there. I had seen "August [Osage County]" and I met Tracy a few times, and he seemed to think I was the guy and wanted me to play the part. I was flattered and delighted.

To read the full interview in Newsday click here. 

In Superior Donuts, Arthur Przybyszewski (Michael McKean) owns a decrepit donut shop in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago. Franco Wicks, a black teenager who is his only employee, wants to change the shop for the better. This provocative comedy, set in the heart of one of Chicago's most diverse communities, explores the challenges of embracing the past and the redemptive power of friendship.

The Broadway cast includes Steppenwolf ensemble members Jon Michael Hill, Yasen Peyankov and James Vincent Meredith with Jane Alderman, Kate Buddeke, Cliff Chamberlain, Michael Garvey, Robert Maffia and Michael McKean. "Superior Donuts" is written by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning ensemble member Tracy Letts and directed by ensemble member Tina Landau. The play enjoyed a sold-out, world-premiere at Steppenwolf Theatre Company last summer. The production is produced by Jeffrey Richards, Jean Doumanian and Jerry Frankel.

"Superior Donuts" follows Letts' Tony Award-winning play "August: Osage County" (which had also its sold-out, world-premiere at Steppenwolf) into The Music Box Theatre. Tickets for "Superior Donuts" are on sale through Telecharge.com or by calling 212-239-6200. "Superior Donuts" will perform Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m., Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. and Sundays at 3:00 p.m.

Michael McKean most recently appeared on Broadway in the critically acclaimed 2008 revival of Harold Pinter's The Homecoming, for which he received a Drama Desk award for Best Ensemble. His other Broadway credits include the 2006 Tony Award winning revival of The Pajama Game, Accomplice (Theatre World Award) and Hairspray. Off-Broadway: Woody Allen's A Second Hand Memory. London: Love Song. TV: Series regular on Laverne & Shirley, Dream On, Sessions, Tracy Takes On, Saturday Night Live, Primetime Glick. Guest appearances include Friends, The X Files, The Simpsons, Law & Order, Smallville, Alias, Boston Legal. Film: This is Spinal Tap (also co-wrote), Clue, Coneheads, The Brady Bunch Movie, True Crime, Jack, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, For Your Consideration, Joshua, The Grand, many more. Composed music for several of the above and co-wrote (with Christopher Guest and Eugene Levy) the Grammy-winning theme to A Mighty Wind and the Oscar-nominated "A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow," written with wife Annette O'Toole.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.