TEMPERAMENTALS' Urie and Marans Set For "New Directions for Gay Theatre" 4/11

Michael Urie (Lortel nominee Outstanding Lead Actor) and Jon Marans (star and author of The Temperamentals- Lortel nominee Outstanding Play) will participate at the "New Directions for Gay Theater" seminar at The Snapple Theater Center's Jerry Orbach Theater, 210 West 50th Street (at Broadway) on Sunday, April 11. Doors will open at Noon for networking and complimentary continental breakfast and coffee. The panel is 12:30pm - 2:00pm. The Off Broadway Alliance, the organization of Off Broadway producers, general managers, venue owners, press agents and marketing personnel, is presenting the second in a series of seminars focused on the culture, business and history of Off Broadway theater. The panel will also feature Christopher Sieber and Michael Zam (star and book writer of The Kid), Leslie Jordan (author and star of Leslie Jordan's My Trip Down the Pink Carpet) and Joseph Zellnik (composer of Yank!r). Patrick Healy, theater reporter for The New York Times, will moderate the discussion. Admission for the seminar is free, however reservations are a must. To RSVP for the event before April 9, visit http://april11obaseminar.eventbrite.com/.

The critically acclaimed hit show "The Temperamentals" by Jon Marans is at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street). Daryl Roth, Stacy Shane and Martian Entertainment are presenting the new American play. Thomas Jay Ryan (recently on Broadway "In The Next Room") portrays Harry Hay. Michael Urie (from TV's "Ugly Betty") is Rudi Gernreich. Arnie Burton (an original cast member of Broadway's "39 Steps") has joined the cast in multiple roles. Rounding out the cast of five multiple talented actors are Matthew Schneck, and Sam Breslin Wright. It is directed by Jonathan Silverstein. The Set & Costume design is by Clint Ramos, lighting by Josh Bradford and Daniel Kluger is the sound designer. The play was nominated for a GLAAD Award for Outstanding New York Theater: Broadway & Off-Broadway. (2 hrs 05 mins including intermission) www.thetemperamentals.com

Jon Marans Old Wicked Songs, 1996 Pulitzer Prize Finalist for Drama, winner of New York Drama League, L.A. Drama Logue Award, included in Best Plays of 1996-97; premiered in NYC at the Barrow Group. Then it transferred by Daryl Roth to the Promenade Theater. Produced in over a dozen countries including England in London's West End with Bob Hoskins and James Callis. Some other shows include: A Strange and Separate People, Jumping For Joy, Legacy of the Dragonslayers, based on Studs Terkel's "Coming of Age" (book by Jon Marans), the musical Irrationals (book & lyrics Jon Marans, music by Edward Thomas) In television, he was a writer/lyricist for the 1991 New Carol Burnett Show. In film , Jon and Yuri Sivo have written the screenplay Chasing The Dragon for Universal Pictures/Tribeca. Mr. Marans is a graduate of Duke University in mathematics and a minor in music.

Michael Urie has appeared across the country at great theatres like: The Blank Theatre in LA, South Coast Rep (as Horatio for Daniel Sullivan's Hamlet), The Old Globe, Seattle Rep (in Andrei Belgrader's The King Stag), DC's Folger (as Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet), Barrington Stage and Austin's Hyde Park Theatre. In NY, Michael previously appeared in The Temperamentals at TBG, worked for HERE, The Foundry, HB Playwrights, the Drama Desk winning Celebrity Autobiography (as Miley Cyrus, David Cassidy, Tommy Lee, et al), and in WTC VIEW as a play, then a feature film. Michael's voice is in Disney's Beverly Hills Chihuahua, and his whole body is in four seasons of ABC's Ugly Betty.

"TalkOut Mondays"* (after performance) April 5 David Hyde Pierce (Tony, Emmy Award winner) & Brian Hargrove (TV executive, writer, producer); April12 David Mixner (civil rights activist and best-selling author) & Judith Light (actress); April 19 David Reynolds (American historian and literary critic) & guest t b a; April 26 Chuck Wolfe (President & CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund) & guest t b a. * subject to change/availability

Performances are: Monday; Thursday; Friday at 8:00 pm; Saturday at 2:00 pm & 8:00 pm and Sunday at 3:00 pm & 7:00 pm. Ticket prices are: $65 and on Saturday evening $69. Premium seats are available.. Student tickets for $25 for the mezzanine are available in advance and must be purchased at the box office. Special group rates are also available.

Tickets are on sale at the box office and through TeleCharge (212) 239-6200 or (800) 432-7250 and TeleCharge.com.

Photo Credit: Linda Lenzi