Nina Arianda Wins Best Lead Actress in a Play for VENUS IN FUR

Nina Arianda is this year's recipient of the Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play for VENUS IN FUR.

Nina Arianda was nominated for a Tony Award for her Broadway debut performance as 'Billie Dawn' in Born Yesterday and has become one of the most talked about and sought after actors in New York. Arianda appeared in Universal's Tower Heist playing opposite Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy and made her network television debut guest-starring on "The Good Wife."

In 2010, she debuted Off-Broadway in Venus in Fur with a phenomenal performance garnering attention from the entire New York theater community. Based on her performance, she was offered roles in Woody Allen's film Midnight in Paris, Tom McCarthy's film Win Win, and Vera Farmiga's film Higher Ground.

Nina has been honored with awards from the Drama League; an Outer Critics Circle Award, the Actors' Equity Association Clarence Derwent Award; the Theater World Award and Clive Barnes Award. Nina trained at AMDA in their studio program for acting and at the New School for Liberal Arts in New York, Eugene Lang division.

VENUS IN FUR, the acclaimed play by David Ives, directed by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie starring Tony Award nominee Nina Arianda and Emmy Award nominee Hugh Dancy began performances on February 7 at the Lyceum Theatre (149 West 45th Street).

VENUS IN FUR is produced at the Lyceum Theatre by Jon B. Platt, Scott Landis, Manhattan Theatre Club Productions, Inc. (Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director; Barry Grove Executive Producer), Jessica R. Jenen, Scott M. Delman, and Classic Stage Company.

Hugh Dancy is appearing with the permission of Actors’ Equity Association. The Producers gratefully acknowledge Actors’ Equity Association for its assistance of this production.

Vanda (Nina Arianda) is a preternaturally talented young actress determined to land the lead in Thomas’ (Hugh Dancy) new play based on the classic erotic novel, Venus in Fur. Her emotionally charged audition for the gifted but demanding playwright/director becomes an electrifying game of cat and mouse, blurring the lines between fantasy and reality, seduction and power, love and sex. This dazzling new play is written by theatrical mastermind David Ives, and directed by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie.

The creative team for VENUS IN FUR includes John Lee Beatty (scenic design), Anita Yavich (costume design), Peter Kaczorowski (lighting design), ACME Sound Partners (sound design), and Thomas Schall (fight direction).