BUYER & CELLAR, Starring Michael Urie, to Begin Previews 7/9 at the Mark Taper Forum

"Buyer & Cellar" featuring Michael Urie begins previews July 9, 2014, at the CTG/Mark Taper Forum. Jonathan Tolins' outrageous new comedy, directed by Stephen Brackett, opens July 13; performances continue through August 17.

In "Buyer & Cellar" Alex More (played by Urie) has a story to tell. A struggling actor in Los Angeles, Alex takes a job working in the Malibu basement of a beloved megastar. One day, the Lady Herself comes downstairs to play. It feels like a real bonding in the basement but will their relationship ever make it upstairs? "Buyer & Cellar" is a hilarious new comedy about the price of fame, the cost of things and the oddest of odd jobs.

"Buyer & Cellar" received numerous awards and nominations for best solo show and Urie's performance, including the Drama Desk, Lucille Lortel and Clarence Derwent awards.

Prior to Los Angeles, Michael Urie and "Buyer and Cellar" have appeared in NYC, Chicago and Washington, D.C., and following L.A., will go on to San Francisco and Dallas.

Michael Urie played Marc St. James on the hit series "Ugly Betty." His New York theatre credits include "How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" (Broadway), "The Cherry Orchard" (CSC), "Angels in America" (The Signature), "The Temperamentals" (Lucille Lortel, Drama Desk, and Theatre World Awards, Drama League nomination), "The Revenger's Tragedy" (Red Bull) and "Another Vermeer" (HB Playwrights). Regionally, he's worked for The Old Globe, Vineyard Playhouse, South Coast Rep, Seattle Rep, Folger Shakespeare, Barrington Stage, Hyde Park (Austin) and The Blank (L.A.). Films include "He's Way More Famous Than You" (also directed), "Thank You For Judging" (co-director/executive producer), "Beverly Hills Chihuahua," "WTC View," "Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life," "The Decoy Bride" and "Petunia." He starred in the television series "Partners" and trained at Juilliard.

Jonathan Tolins' plays include "The Twilight of the Golds" (Booth Theater), "If Memory Serves" (Promenade Theater), "The Last Sunday in June" (Rattlestick and Century Center), and "Secrets of the Trade" (Primary Stages). Tolins co-wrote the films "The Twilight of the Golds" and "Martian Child." He was a consulting producer on the recent CBS comedy "Partners" and was co-producer on the first season of "Queer As Folk" on Showtime. He has written for the Academy Awards and the Tony Awards, and co-wrote Bette Midler's "Divine Miss Millennium Tour" and "The Showgirl Must Go On" in Las Vegas.

Tickets for "Buyer & Cellar" are available by calling (213) 628-2772, visiting www.CenterTheatreGroup.org, or in person at the Center Theatre Group box office at the Ahmanson Theatre. Tickets range from $25 - $70 (ticket prices are subject to change). The Mark Taper Forum is located at the Music Center, 135 N. Grand Avenue in Downtown L.A. 90012.