M. BUTTERFLY to Open Everyman Theatre's 2017/18 Season

Everyman Theatre has announced today that it will open its upcoming 2017/2018 season with David Henry Hwang's Pulitzer Prize-nominated drama M. Butterfly. The production will star Everyman Theatre Resident Company Member Bruce Randolph Nelson as French diplomat Rene Gallimard. This complex story about love and illusion follows the secretive romance between the married diplomat and a mysterious Chinese opera singer, Song Liling.

Everyman's production of M. Butterfly will run in September and October, 2017. A recently announced Broadway revival of the play, directed by Julie Taymor, will begin performances at the end of October.

"We couldn't wait to share this news," said Everyman's Founding Artistic Director Vincent M. Lancisi. "We're thrilled to be sharing such a compelling theatrical masterpiece with Baltimore. The love story between Rene and Song Liling is so rich and complex; this is what extraordinary dramas are made of. Our very own Bruce Nelson will absolutely shine as Rene, a true once-in-a-lifetime role."

Further casting, director and design team will be announced at a later date.

M. Butterfly originally opened on Broadway on March 20, 1988 with John Lithgow and BD Wong in the lead roles. The play was a finalist for the 1989 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The play was later adapted into a film starring Jeremy Irons and John Lone.

The full 2017/2018 Everyman Theatre season will be announced later this spring. Individual tickets for M. Butterfly will go on sale in late summer.

About Everyman Theatre

Everyman Theatre is a professional Equity theatre company celebrating the actor, with a resident company of artists from the Baltimore/DC area. Founded in 1990 by Vincent M. Lancisi, the theatre is dedicated to engaging the audience through a shared experience between actor and audience seeking connection and emotional truth in performance. Everyman is committed to presenting high quality plays that are affordable and accessible to everyone. The theatre strives to engage, inspire and transform artists, audiences and community through theatre of the highest artistic standards and is committed to embodying the promise of its name, Everyman Theatre.

The 16/17 Season is generously sponsored by Lifebridge Health and Neil & Ellen Meltzer. Everyman Theatre's Pay-What-You-Can nights are supported by Dr. E. Lee & Bea Robbins. Everyman Theatre is proud to have The Baltimore Sun Media Group and WYPR Season Media Sponsors.

MSAC provides financial support and technical assistance to non-profit organizations, units of government, colleges and universities for arts activities. Funding for the Maryland State Arts Council is also provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

Everyman Theatre is a proud member of the Bromo Tower Arts and Entertainment District and the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance.

Vincent M. Lancisi is the Founding Artistic Director of Everyman Theatre; Jonathan K. Waller is the Managing Director. For information about Everyman Theatre, visit www.everymantheatre.org or call 410.752.2208.