VENUS IN FUR Begins Rehearsals Today

Manhattan Theatre Club's Broadway premiere of VENUS IN FUR, the acclaimed new play by David Ives, directed by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie starts rehearsals today. The production stars Tony nominee Nina Arianda reprising her acclaimed breakthrough performance and Emmy Award nominee Hugh Dancy (Journey's End, "The Big C"). VENUS IN FUR will begin previews on Thursday, October 13 and open Tuesday, November 8 at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street). The production will play a limited 10 week engagement with tickets on sale through Sunday, December 18 only.

Critically acclaimed as "90 minutes of good, kinky, fun!" by The New York Times, VENUS IN FUR makes its Broadway premiere at MTC. Vanda (Arianda) is a preternaturally talented young actress determined to land the lead in Thomas' (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).

VENUS IN FUR is produced on Broadway by Manhattan Theatre Club (Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director; Barry Grove, Executive Producer) by special arrangement with Jon B. Platt, Scott Landis, 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.

In addition to VENUS IN FUR, MTC's Broadway season at the Friedman Theatre includes the upcoming Broadway premiere of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play WIT by Margaret Edson, directed by Lynne Meadow, starring Cynthia Nixon and the upcoming world premiere of THE COLUMNIST by David Auburn, directed by Daniel Sullivan, with John Lithgow in the title role.

Tickets for VENUS IN FUR are available by calling Telecharge at 212-239-6200, online by visiting www.Telecharge.com, or by visiting the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre Box Office (261 West 47th Street). Ticket prices are $57 - $116.

For more information on MTC, please visit www.ManhattanTheatreClub.com.