Beach, Topol, Etc. Set for Primary Stages' 'Opus'

Primary Stages launches its 2007-2008 season of new works by American playwrights with the New York premiere of the new play Opus by Michael Hollinger (An Empty Plate in the Café du Grand Boeuf, Red Herring) with direction by Terrence J. Nolen (Arden Theatre Company co-founder and producing artistic director). 

The five-member cast features David Beach (Mamma Mia!, Urinetown, Moon Over Buffalo), Mahira Kakkar (Ms. Witherspoon, The Three Sisters), Michael Laurence (Talk Radio, Levittown), Doug Rees (A Marriage Minuet at Westport Country Playhouse, Opus world premiere) and Richard Topol (Awake and Sing!, Julius Caesar, The School for Scandal).   Performances begin Tuesday, July 24, 2007 for a limited run through Saturday, September 1, 2007 at Primary Stages at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street, between Park and Madison Avenues).   Opening night is set for Tuesday, August 7, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.

Opus is "a new play about a world-renowned string quartet that is struggling to prepare for their highest-profile performance, when the violist, and founder of the quartet, mysteriously disappears.  When a young woman is hired as the replacement, her musical gifts inspire the musicians, and they decide on short notice to abandon their friendly Pachelbel Canon program and to replace it with Beethoven's difficult Opus 131.  The rehearsal room becomes a pressure cooker as passions rise, personalities clash, and the musicians are forced to tackle the ephemeral nature of their life's work.  Opus garnered two 2006 Barrymore Awards for Outstanding New Play and Outstanding Direction of a Play when it received its world premiere at the Arden Theatre Company in Philadelphia," state press materials.

The creative team includes Jim Kronzer (Sets), Anne Kennedy (Costumes), Justin Townsend (Lights), and Jorge Cousineau (Sound).  The Production Stage Manager is Fred Hemminger.

Opus will play the following performance schedule: Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m., Wednesdays through Friday at 8:00 p.m., and Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.  Additionally, there are Sunday matinees scheduled for July 29, August 5 and 12 at 3:00 p.m. and Wednesday matinees on August 15, 22 & 29 at 2:00 p.m.  Following the public performances on August 9 and 23, there are special "Artist/Audience Talkbacks" for the attendees of the performances on those evenings. 

Single tickets for Opus are priced at $60 each, and may be purchased by calling Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200, online at www.ticketcentral.com, or in person at the 59E59 Theaters Box Office.  Group Tickets (15+) are $47.50 each, and are available by calling (212) 840-9705.  For further information about Primary Stages, please visit the website at www.primarystages.com, or call (212) 840-9705.

Photos - Michael Hollinger and Terry J. Nolen

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