Megan Mullally To Join STARZ Comedy 'Party Down'

Entertainment Weekly reports that Emmy-winning actress and singer Megan Mullally will join the cast of the STARZ comedy "Party Down."

She'll play the character of Lydia Dunfree, who according to press notes, "leaves her small town and joins a Los Angeles catering team while she helps her 13-year-old daughter pursue her dream to be an actress."

The half-hour series starts production on its second season in mid-September and is set to air on STARZ in April 2010.

Mullally played the character of Karen Walker on NBC's "Will & Grace" for 8 seasons, receiving 2 Emmy Awards and 4 Screen Actors Guild Awards. She recently hosted a syndicated daytime talk show for NBC/Universal, "The Megan Mullally Show," and has appeared on Broadway in the Mel Brooks' musical Young Frankenstein and the revivals of How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying and Grease.

As a vocalist, her credits include performances at Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, The Seattle Symphony (with her band Supreme Music Program), and Los Angeles' Disney Concert Hall (soloist). She and her band, Supreme Music Program, recently released their third CD, Free Again!.

Called "a must-see" by USA Today, "Party Down" features a talented ensemble of actors, including Ken Marino as Ron Donald, the aggressively pious leader of the Party Down Catering company; Adam Scott as Henry Pollard, the one-time actor who has returned to the life of cater-waiter; Martin Starr as Roman DeBeers, the team's self-proclaimed Sci Fi visionary and all-purpose intellectual; Ryan Hansen as Kyle Bradway, who's an actor, model and front-man for an earnest alt-rock band when not working Hollywood parties; and Lizzy Caplan as Casey Klein, a pretty, smart, funny, and insecure comedienne who happens to make ends meet as a cater-waiter.

Starz Media, the production and distribution sibling of the Starz premium entertainment channels, is producer of the series, which is once again being directed by '80s icon, Fred Savage ("The Wonder Years") and Bryan Gordon ("Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Freaks and Geeks"), both of whom are also supervising producers on the second season. Series star Ken Marino will also direct an episode. Jennifer Gwartz and Danielle Stokdyk serve as co-executive producers. Series star Adam Scott will serve as producer.

Mullally is also currently starring in Odyssey Theatre's production of Adam Bock's The Receptionist through September 20th. The Receptionist is directed by Bart DeLorenzo. The production also stars Jennifer Finnigan, Jeff Perry, and Chris L. McKenna.

The production, which began previews August 5 and officially opened August 15, was originally scheduled to close September 20. The show has been extended and will now close November 21.

For more information, visit www.odysseytheatre.com.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.

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