Rajiv Joseph's GUARDS AT THE TAJ Opens Tonight at Atlantic Theater Company

Atlantic Theater Company welcomes Tony Award nominated actor and director Amy Morton to stage the world premiere of Pulitzer Prize finalist Rajiv Joseph's play Guards at the Taj, starring Tony Award nominated actors Omar Metwally and Arian Moayed. Guards at the Taj began previews May 20 and officially opens tonight, June 11, for a limited engagement through Sunday, June 28 off-Broadway at Atlantic Theater Company at The Linda Gross Theater (336 West 20th Street).

In 1648 India, two Imperial Guards watch from their post as the sun rises for the first time on the newly-completed Taj Mahal - an event that shakes their respective worlds. When they are ordered to perform an unthinkable task, the aftermath forces them to question the concept of friendship, beauty and duty, and changes them forever.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company member Amy Morton's directing credits include The Way West, Penelope, Clybourne Park, American Buffalo, Glengarry Glen Ross, The Pillowman, Dublin Carol and Topdog/Underdog for the company. She received Tony and Drama Desk award nominations for both her acclaimed performances in the most recent revival of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and August: Osage County on Broadway in addition to appearing in over thirty Steppenwolf Theatre Company productions.

Rajiv Joseph's play Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and received a Drama Desk award nomination for Outstanding Play. His other plays include Gruesome Playground Injuries, Animals Out of Paper, The North Pool, The Lake Effect and Mr. Wolf. He co-wrote the screenplay for the feature film Draft Day starring Kevin Costner and Jennifer Garner and has also written for the Showtime series "Nurse Jackie."

Omar Metwally received a Tony Award nomination for his performance in Sixteen Wounded on Broadway and appeared in As You Like It at The Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park. He was featured in Steven Spielberg's Munich, Gavin Hood's Rendition and Julian Schnabel's Miral and will be seen this spring in Gideon Raff's new television series "Dig."

Arian Moayed was honored with a Theater World Award and Tony and Drama League nominations for his breakthrough performance in Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo on Broadway. Off-Broadway he received a Drama Desk nomination for Masked and has appeared in King Lear, Food & Fadwa andAmerican Pilot. He is currently developing the pilot for the thriller mini -series "The Accidental Wolf" starring Kelli O'Hara.

Guards at the Taj will feature scenic design by Timothy R. Mackabee, costume design by Bobby Frederick Tilley II, lighting design by David Weiner, original music and sound design by Rob Milburn & Michael Bodeen, special effects design by Jeremy Chernick and fight direction by J. David Brimmer.

Guards at the Taj was awarded the 2015 Laurents/Hatcher Foundation Award, given annually for an unproduced, full-length play of social relevance by an emerging American playwright.

Photo Credit: Doug Hamilton