GAME OF SILENCE Star Michael Raymond-James to Lead BTG's CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF

Berkshire Theatre Group announces casting for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, with TV and Film actor, Michael Raymond-James as Brick. Neil Genzlinger (New York Times) suggests that Raymond-James is "scary good," in NBC's new series Game of Silence, adding that he "injects a sense of ominous unpredictability into this well-made revenge thriller." In addition, Michael Raymond-James has appeared in hit shows such as, True Blood and Once Upon a Time, as well as the feature films, Black Snake Moan with Justin Timberlake, and Jack Reacher with Tom Cruise.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof's cast also features Jim Beaver as Big Daddy (TV: Better Call Saul, Supernatural, Deadwood; Film: In Country, Magnolia, The Life of David Gale), Rebecca Brooksher as Maggie (BTG: Anna Christie, Period of Adjustment; TV: Elementary, Happyish) and Linda Gehringer as Big Mama (BTG: I Saw My Neighbor on the Train and I Didn't Even Smile, The Batting Cage; TV: Justified; Film: As Good as it Gets). Cat on a Hot Tin Roof runs at The Fitzpatrick Main Stage from Wednesday, June 22 through Saturday, July 16. A further announcement with complete casting will be made at later date.

Director David Auburn, says, "We will be taking a fresh look at this great American classic with an outstanding company of actors, aiming for a production that's as unexpected as it is visceral. I've worked with Rebecca Brooksher many times, going back to the Juilliard School. We last collaborated at BTG on Anna Christie. I'm excited to be working with Jim Beaver, Linda Gehringer and Michael Raymond-James for the first time."

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Cast
by Tennessee Williams
directed by David Auburn

at The Fitzpatrick Main Stage
BTG's Stockbridge Campus, 83 East Main Street

Previews: Wednesday, June 22 through Friday, June 24
Press Opening/Opening Night: Saturday, June 25 at 8pm
Talkback: Monday, June 27 after 7pm performance
Closing: Saturday, July 16 at 8pm
Tickets: Preview: $45
Tickets: $62
Sponsored by: Country Curtains, The Red Lion Inn and The Westfield News Group

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Cast:
Big Daddy: Jim Beaver
Big Mama: Linda Gehringer
Brick: Michael Raymond-James
Maggie: Rebecca Brooksher

Jim Beaver (Big Daddy) recently recurred on the hit shows Better Call Saul and Mike and Molly. Jim starred as Ellsworth on HBO's Deadwood and as Bobby Singer on CW's Supernatural. Jim first came to prominence as Bruce Willis's best friend in Norman Jewison's acclaimed film, In Country, and appeared in hit films such as Magnolia, Joy Ride, Adaptation, and leading role in The Life of David Gale. He will be featured in Guillermo del Toro's new film, Haunted Peak. As a stage actor, Jim has spent five seasons with the Dallas Shakespeare Festival, played lead roles in Macbeth in national tours, as well as regional theatre roles including Henry II in The Lion in Winter and the title role in Charley's Aunt. He is a three-time Los Angeles Dramalogue Critics Award winner for his work writing and acting in his own plays, Verdigris, Semper Fi and Sidekick.

Rebecca Brooksher (Maggie) is thrilled to return to BTG after appearing in Period of Adjustment and Anna Christie at The Fitzpatrick Main Stage and Sick at The Unicorn Theatre. Other credits in the area include Molly Sweeney, Blackbird, and Nina Variations at Chester Theater Company and All my Sons and Private Lives at Barrington Stage. New York credits include: The Real Thing (Roundabout), Loot (Red Bull), Dying City (Lincoln Center, Lortel nomination Best Actress), Love's Labor's Lost (The Public Theater), The Scariest (Bleeker Street), White People (Atlantic Stage 2). Recent regional credits include: Golden Age (The Kennedy Center), She Stoops to Conquer and Twelfth Night (McCarter Theatre), Monster at the Door (Alley), Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare Theatre of NJ), and Mr. Wolf (Cleveland Playhouse). TV: Elementary, Love Monkey, Ugly Betty, The Confession; recurring on Happyish, The Good Wife, Canterbury's Law, One Life to Live. Film: Cold Souls, The Muse. Juilliard graduate (Group 34).

Linda Gehringer (Big Mama) has previously appeared at BTG in I Saw My Neighbor on the Train and I Didn't Even Smile and The Batting Cage. She most recently premiered in Going to a Place Where You Already Are at South Coast Repertory, also appearing there in the World Premieres of The Parisian Woman, The Language Archive, and The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow, a role she repeated in its New York Premiere at The Atlantic Theatre Company. She has played leading roles in theaters across the country, including Seattle Repertory's premieres of The Comparables and How to Write A New Book for the Bible (also at Berkeley Rep: LADC nomination) and The Crowd You're In With at the Goodman Theatre (Jeff Award-nomination). Recent television credits include recurring roles on: Justified and Touch, and guest stars on NCIS, Raising Hope, Weeds, Gilmore Girls, Without a Trace, Cold Case, Ally McBeal, Frasier and The West Wing. Film: Into the Storm, Kreep and As Good as it Gets.

Michael Raymond-James (Brick) received his training at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute in New York City, where he studied with esteemed acting coach George Loros. He currently resides in Los Angeles. Raymond-James finished filming Carter & June opposite Samaire Armstrong. Additionally, he was in director Christopher McQuarrie's Jack Reacher with Tom Cruise and Road to Paloma opposite Jason Momoa. Raymond-James made his feature film debut in Black Snake Moan with Christina Ricci and Samuel Jackson. He is a regular on the new NBC's series Game of Silence. Before that, he ended a series regular run on ABC's Once Upon a Time opposite Ginnifer Goodwin and Jennifer Morrison. Previous to this, he led the cast of Sean Ryan's Terriers, opposite Donal Logue for FX. Other television credits include a series regular role on HBO's True Blood, as well as guest-starring roles for such shows as The Walking Dead, Law & Order, ER, Boston Legal and CSI. Also can be seen in the History Channel mini-series, Son's of Liberty.

"I've got the guts to die. What I want to know is do you have the guts to live?" asks the towering and domineering Big Daddy. Sometimes described as Williams' greatest play, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof was the playwrights' favorite. A powerful depiction of greed and deception that lies in the heart of a Southern American family, this Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning play will be directed by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning David Auburn (Proof), returning to the Fitzpatrick Main Stage where he has directed A Delicate Balance, Period of Adjustment and Anna Christie.

Mississippi plantation owner, the cantankerous Big Daddy, is celebrating his 65th birthday. His family has returned for the occasion, including his favorite son, the masculine Brick, and Brick's wife, the lonely and longing Maggie. Brick and Maggie's strained marriage plagues Big Daddy's mind, and he demands answers to why they haven't given him a grandchild yet. However, Big Daddy's family holds a powerful secret, and an ulterior motive as to why they have returned to the plantation. The families' troubled relationships and emotional lies become exposed in the timeless American treasure, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

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