POOR BEHAVIOR Begins Rehearsals

Rehearsals began this week for "Poor Behavior," Theresa Rebeck's new play making its world premiere at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum with previews beginning September 7 and opening set for September 18, 2011. Directed by Doug Hughes, the cast for "Poor Behavior" includes JohAnna Day, Sharon Lawrence, Reg Rogers and Christopher Evan Welch (in alphabetical order).

"Poor Behavior," a new play about lust and deception, marriage and fidelity continues at the Taper through October 16. In "Poor Behavior," a drunken late night argument about morality, history and ethics careens out of control, leaving two marriages and four lives in its wake. Over the course of two demented days in a lovely country house, this dark adult comedy asks the question: Is it adultery if they already think you've done it?

"Poor Behavior" is presented at the Taper by special arrangement with Jeffrey Finn and features set design by Tony Award-winner John Lee Beatty, costume design by Tony Award- winner Catherine Zuber, lighting design by Ben Stanton and sound design and by Obie Award-winner David Van Tieghem. The production stage manager is Barclay Stiff. JohAnna Day, who appeared at the Taper in "Distracted" in 2007, was nominated for a Tony Award for her role in "Proof." She has appeared off-Broadway in numerous productions, including most recently "Middletown," "Oliver Parker!" and Albee's "Peter and Jerry."

Though best known for her starring roles and guest appearances on notable series such as "NYPD Blue," "Desperate Housewives" and "Grey's Anatomy," Sharon Lawrence has appeared on Broadway and in Los Angeles at the Taper ("Tongue of a Bird" in 1999), the Geffen Playhouse, among other theatres.

Reg Rogers recently appeared on Broadway in "A Free Man of Color" as well as in the admired revival of "The Royal Family"; he received both Obie and Lucille Lortel Awards for his work in Richard Greenberg's "The Dazzle," as well as Tony and Drama Desk Award nominations for "Holiday."

Christopher Evan Welch has appeared on Broadway in "The Crucible" (2002 revival) and "Festen," as well as at the Taper in "Closer" and off-Broadway and in numerous series, including the recent "Rubicon," "Law & Order," "The Good Wife" and more.

The production reunites Pulitzer Prize finalist Rebeck with director Hughes, who previously collaborated in 2007 on Rebeck's Broadway debut, "Mauritius." Theresa Rebeck is a widely produced playwright throughout the United States and abroad whose work also includes "The Scene," "The Water's Edge," "Loose Knit," "The Family of Mann," "Spike Heels," "Bad Dates," "Our House," "View of the Dome," "Omnium Gatherum" (co-written with Alexandra Gersten-Vassilaros; the play was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2004) and "The Understudy." She has written two novels, "Three Girls and Their Brother" and "Twelve Rooms with a View." She is also an award-winning writer and producer for television, including the shows "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," "Brooklyn Bridge," "Dream On," "L.A. Law" and "NYPD Blue," among others.

Doug Hughes recently directed the new Broadway production of "Born Yesterday." He won the 2005 Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Lortel and Callaway Awards for his direction of John Patrick Shanley's Pulitzer Prize-winning play "Doubt." His other Broadway credits include "Mauritius," "Elling," "Mrs. Warren's Profession," "A Man for All Seasons," "Oleanna" (production originated at Taper), "Inherit the Wind" (Tony nomination).

His many off-Broadway productions include "The Whipping Man," "The Grey One" (Obie Award), "Flesh and Blood" (Callaway Award) and "The Paris Letter," and he has also directed numerous productions for most of the nation's leading theatre companies. He is resident director of New York's Roundabout Theatre Company and in 2005 he won an Obie Award for Sustained Excellence.

Tickets and information are available at CenterTheatreGroup.org or the Center Theatre Group box office located at the Ahmanson Theatre, or by calling 213-628-2772.

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