THE VELOCITY OF AUTUMN Opens on Broadway Tonight at Booth Theatre

The Velocity of Autumn is a 90-minute powder keg dark comedy by Eric Coble that stars Academy Award winner Estelle Parsons (Bonnie and Clyde, "Roseanne") and two-time Tony Award winner Stephen Spinella (Angels in America, Lincoln, "24"), is directed by Molly Smith and will open tonight, April 21, 2014 at the Booth Theatre. This limited Broadway engagement of The Velocity of Autumn follows a sold-out, critically acclaimed run at Washington DC's Arena Stage (Edgar Dobie, Executive Producer) in the fall of 2013.

THE VELOCITY OF AUTUMN swirls around Alexandra, a 79-year-old artist in a showdown with her family over where she'll spend her remaining years. In Alexandra's corner are her wit, her volcanic passion and the fact that she's barricaded herself in her Brooklyn brownstone with enough Molotov cocktails to take out the block. But her children have their own secret weapon: estranged son Chris who returns after 20 years, crawls through Alexandra's second floor window, and becomes the family's unlikely mediator. No sooner are the words "Hi, Mom" uttered than the emotional bombs start detonating. The Velocity of Autumn, written by Eric Coble and directed by Molly Smith, is a wickedly funny and wonderfully touching discovery of the fragility and ferocity of life.

THE VELOCITY OF AUTUMN has scenic design by Eugene Lee, costume design by Linda Cho, lighting design by Rui Rita, sound design by Darron L. West, wig design by Paul Huntley, and casting by Geoff Josselson. The Velocity of Autumn is produced by Larry Kaye & HOP Theatricals; Van Dean & The Broadway Consortium; Joan Raffe & Jhett Tolentino; Michael J. Moritz, Jr.; Catherine & Fred Adler; Rob Hinderliter & Dominick LaRuffa, Jr. and KIRN Productions in association with Neal Rubinstein; R. Erin Craig & Seiler-Smith/Franklin Theatrical & James Valletti; and James Simon & Stephen Ganns/Jonathan Demar. Associate producers are Joan & Marvin Rosenberg; Sharleen Cooper Cohen/John Perkoff & Michelle Schaap; Lauren Class Schneider and Craig J. Horsley/Michael Rubenstein.

Photos by Joan Marcus