McCarter Theatre to Host Morton-Helmed BUFFALO Starring Letts; Opens 3/9

McCarter Theatre will continue its 2009-2010 season with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company's production of David Mamet's American Buffalo. The production is directed by Tony Award-nominaTed August: Osage County actress Amy Morton and starring August: Osage County's Pulitzer-Prize winning playwright Tracy Letts, runs from March 9 through March 28 (press opening: Friday, March 12 at 8pm). The cast will also feature John Judd and Patrick Andrews.

In this story of a penetrating battle of friendship versus business, loyalty is tested as three small-time crooks plot the midnight robbery of a buffalo nickel. A biting critique of capitalism and inflated valuation from Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Mamet, American Buffalo is a menacing, humorous and philosophical masterpiece.

About this production, The Wall Street Journal raved, "[Tracy Letts'] performance is one of the many highlights of a production so strong that I don't see how it could be bettered...Very, very funny- I've never seen an American Buffalo that got more laughs."

Tracy Letts joined the Steppenwolf ensemble in 2002 and has performed with the ensemble in productions of Betrayal, The Pillowman, Last of the Boys, The Pain and the Itch, The Dresser, Homebody/Kabul, The Dazzle, Glengarry GLen Ross (also in Dublin and Toronto), Three Days of Rain, Road to Nirvana, and Picasso at the Lapin Agile. He was awarded the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Tony Award for Best Play for August: Osage County which premiered at Steppenwolf in 2007 played on Broadway and London's National Theatre and is currently enjoying a 40-week U.S. tour. Other writing credits include Man from Nebraska, which was produced at Steppenwolf in 2003 and was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize; Killer Joe, which has been produced in Chicago, London and New York; and Bug, which has played in New York, Chicago and London.

An accomplished actor and director, Amy Morton received a 2008 Tony Award nomination for her role in August: Osage County and previously appeared on Broadway as Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Since 1997, she has been an ensemble member of Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre, where she has appeared in more than 20 productions and directed many others, including last year's Dublin Carol with William Peterson, Martin McDonagh's The Pillowman, Suzan-Lori Parks' Topdog/Underdog, and David Mamet's Glengarry GLen Ross. She can be seen in the films Up in the Air, 8MM, Rookie of the Year, and Falling Down.

David Mamet is the acclaimed and award-winning playwright of Glengarry GLen Ross (1984 Pulitzer Prize), Oleanna, November, The Cryptogram and Race, which is currently on Broadway. His screenplays include The Postman Always Rings Twice, The Verdict, Wag the Dog, and Hoffa. As writer and director, his films include House of Games, Oleanna, Homicide, The Spanish Prisoner, State and Main, Heist, Spartan, and Redbelt.

Tickets can be reserved by phone (609) 258-2787; toll-free at (888) 278-7932; online at www.mccarter.org; or at the McCarter Theatre Ticket Office at 91 University Place, Princeton, NJ.

American Buffalo will play the Matthews Theatre of McCarter Theatre Center Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30pm; Friday and Saturday at 8:00pm; with Saturday matinee at 3pm and Sundays at 2pm. Additional performances will be held on Tuesday, March 9 at 7:30pm and Sunday, March 21 at 7:30pm.

McCarter Theatre offers a variety of events in conjunction with the performance, as well as special services for patrons who have visual and audio impairments. (There is no additional charge for these services.) The dates for these programs and events are as follows: Dialogue on Drama: Sunday, March 14, immediately following the 2:00pm matinee; Post-performance Discussions: Wednesday, March 17 at 7:30pm and Sunday, March 21 at 2:00pm; Open Captioned Performance: Saturday, March 20 at 3:00pm; ASL (American Sign Language) Interpreted Performance: Saturday, March 27 at 3:00pm; and Audio Described Performance: Sunday, March 28 at 2:00pm.

McCarter is committed to making live theater available and affordable to all members of our community. To further this goal McCarter offers Public Rush and Pay-What-You Can tickets. Public Rush makes unsold tickets available for half-price on the day of the performance. A Pay-What-You-Can performance will be offered for American Buffalo on Wednesday, March 10 at 7:30pm. Tickets are subject to availability and must be purchased at the McCarter Ticket Office, located at 91 University Place, Princeton.

 

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