MCC's THE LEGEND OF GEORGIA MCBRIDE Begins Previews Tonight

Dave Thomas Brown, recently of Heathers: The Musical at New World Stages, leads a cast that also includes Wayne Duvall (O Brother Where Art Thou?, Leatherheads), Matt McGrath (Cabaret, Hedwig and the Angry Inch), Keith Nobbs (Lombardi, "The Black Donnellys") and Afton C. Williamson ("Nashville," "Homeland"), in Matthew Lopez's The Legend of Georgia McBride, the first production of MCC's 2015-16 Main Stage Season.

The production is directed by Mike Donahue (The Wolfe Twins) with choreography by Paul McGill (Hedwig and the Angry Inch), set design by Tony Award Winner Donyale Werle (Peter and the Starcatcher), costumes by Anita Yavich (Venus in Fur), hair and makeup by Jason Hayes (Casa Valentina), lighting by Ben Stanton (Fun Home), sound design by Jill DuBoff (Hand to God) and casting by Will Cantler/Telsey + Company.

THE LEGEND OF GEORGIA MCBRIDE begins previews tonight, August 20, 2015 ahead of a September 9, 2015 opening night. It is scheduled through October 4, 2015.

How can an Elvis impersonator become a winning drag queen in the Florida Panhandle? With an empty bank account and a pregnant wife, Casey's going to have to answer that question fast in this music-filled comedy about finding your true voice. The Legend of Georgia McBride marks the MCC Theater debuts of playwright Lopez and director Donahue.

Matthew Lopez (Playwright) is the author of The Whipping Man, which was presented in New York at Manhattan Theatre Club and has since become one of the most widely-produced American plays of the last decade. The Legend of Georgia McBride premiered at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, where Matthew is currently serving as the theater's inaugural Playwriting Fellow. Most recently, Hartford Stage Company produced the world premiere of his play Reverberation as well as the East Coast premiere of his play Somewhere. He holds new play commissions from Hartford Stage, Manhattan Theatre Club, Roundabout Theatre Company and South Coast Rep.

Mike Donahue (Director) recently worked on productions of the world premiere of Jen Silverman's The Roommate (Humana); the world premiere of Rachel Bonds' The Wolfe Twins (Studio Theatre D.C.); the world premieres of Matthew Lopez's The Legend of Georgia McBride and Lauren Feldman's Grace, or The Art of Climbing (Denver Center); Jen Silverman's Phoebe in Winter (Clubbed Thumb) and The Hunters (Cherry Lane Mentor Project); Annie Baker's adaptation of Uncle Vanya with Campbell Scott (Weston); Ethan Lipton's Red-Handed Otter (Playwrights Realm); Shostakovich's Moscow, Cheryomushki with new libretto by Meg Miroshnik (Chicago Opera Theatre); and Assassins, Henry IV & V (co-director) and A Number (Playmakers Rep, 2011/12 Distinguished Guest Artist). Mike has directed readings/workshops for MCC, Roundabout Underground, NYTW, Soho Rep (Writer/Director Lab), Williamstown, McCarter, The O'Neill, Clubbed Thumb, Labyrinth, Denver Center, The Lark, Ars Nova, Dramatists Guild, The York, Chautauqua, Cape Cod Theatre Project, TheatreWorks, and Studio 42. Mike is the recipient of a Fulbright to Berlin, the Dramaleague Fall Fellowship, The Boris Sagal Fellowship at Williamstown, an alum of the Soho Rep Writer/Director Lab, winner of the Inaugural Opera America Director-Designer Showcase Award, and was the artistic director of the Yale Summer Cabaret for two seasons. Mike is a graduate of Harvard University (Louis Sudler Prize for Artistic Excellence) and the Yale School of Drama (MFA). Upcoming: Shakespeare's Antony & Cleopatra (Shakespeare Festival St. Louis); 4000 Miles (Actors Theatre); world premiere of Rachel Bonds' Swimmers (Marin). www.mikemdonahue.com

Paul McGill (Choreographer) is associate choreographer for Broadway's Hedwig and the Angry Inch where he has developed movement for John Cameron Mitchell, Michael C. Hall, Darren Criss, and, most recently, Taye Diggs. His other credits include Nilo Cruz's Tsunami, Brooklyn based dance company Grounded Aerial, A Little Taste coffee commercial, and the upcoming film Diamond Soles. He has artistically contributed to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, the Trevor Project, the Actors' Fund, and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Fund. His training is from Pittsburgh Musical Theater and New York's Professional Performing Arts School. Thanks to Emily for constant support, mom and dad for their continued belief. To thine own self be true. MCC debut.

Dave Thomas Brown (Casey) is a North Carolina bred Sagittarius with a bad case of Peter Pan syndrome, and no interest in a cure. Made his Off-Broadway debut as JD in Heathers: The Musical. The Tempest (Taksu Theatre Co), Asking For Trouble (Ensemble Studio Theatre), These Seven Sicknesses (The Flea) Blogologues (Lively Productions) Regionally: Melchior in Spring Awakening (Cygnet Theatre - SD Critics Circle Nomination), At Liberty Hall (Premiere Stages), Shakespeare's R&J (Cygnet Theatre). He can be found up to no good online @davethomasbrown.

Wayne Duvall (Eddie) has been seen in Pride in the Falls of Autrey Mill (dir. Michael Kahn), Bonnie and Clyde (dir. Jeff Calhoun), Working (dir. Gordon Greenberg), Of Thee I Sing (dir. John Rando), On The Wing (dir. Seth Barrish), Happy Days-The Musical (dir. Garry Marshall). Film highlights include: Prisoners, Lincoln, Edge of Darkness, Duplicity, Pride and Glory, Leatherheads, In the Valley of Elah, O'Brother Where Art Thou?, My Fellow Americans and Apollo 13. Soon to be released: Hello My Name Is Frank, Greater and West End. Television: about 100 guest starring roles including four years as Sgt. Phil Brander on "The District" (CBS), "Fargo," "Elementary" and recurring roles on "Madam Secretary," "The Leftovers," "Hell On Wheels" and "The Good Wife." Member of The Actors Center.

Matt McGrath (Tracy) most recently appeared in Verite by Nick Jones at LCT3 (Lincoln Center Theater), The Legend of Georgia McBride (Denver Center for the Performing Arts), His Girl Friday by John Guare (La Jolla Playhouse) and The Rocky Horror Show (The Old Globe). He starred in The Black Rider at Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, San Francisco, London and Sydney. His Broadway credits include Cabaret (Emcee) and A Streetcar Named Desire. His off-Broadway credits include Hedwig and the Angry Inch, A Fair Country (LCT); Collection/A Kind of Alaska by Harold Pinter, Minutes from the Blue Route and The Dadshuttle (Atlantic Theater Company), Fat Men in Skirts, The Old Boy, Life During Wartime, Amulets Against the Dragon Forces and Dalton's Back (Drama Desk nomination). His regional appearances include Romance, Japes and Bell, Book and Candle (Bay Street Theatre); Caroline in Jersey and Loot (Williamstown Theatre Festival); Loot, His Girl Friday (La Jolla Playhouse); Distant Fires (LA Weekly Award); and Snakebit. He appeared in the films Full Grown Men, Boy's Don't Cry, The Notorious Bettie Page, The Anniversary Party, The Broken Hearts Club, The Impostors; and on television in "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," "Little Britain U.S.A.," "Cruel Doubt" and "Modern Family."

Keith Nobbs (Rexy/Jason) Broadway: Lombardi, Bronx Bombers, Lion in Winter. Off-Broadway: I'm Looking for Helen Twelvetrees, The Tutors, Great God Pan, Lemon Sky, Dog Sees God, Romance, The Hasty Heart, Triple Happiness, Bye Bye Birdie at Encores!, Dublin Carol, Free to Be You and Me, Four (Lortel Award, Drama Desk nom), Fuddy Meers, Hope is the Thing with Feathers, Stupid Kids. Film: The Bad Guys, Weakness, The Briefcase, Phone Booth, Double Whammy and more. Television: series regular in Ed Burns' and Steven Spielberg's "Public Morals" on TNT. "The Pacific" (Emmys for Outstanding mini-series and casting) and "Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight" on HBO, "The Black Donnellys" (series regular), "In Plain Sight", "In Treatment", "Person of Interest", the "Law and Orders", "Fringe". Graduate of LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts.

Afton C. Williamson (Jo) just wrapped the lead in the VH1 pilot "The Breaks". Other television includes Showtime's "Homeland", Cinemax's "Banshee", "Nashville", "The Following" and HBO's upcoming series "Crime". In film she appeared in the independent feature "Pariah" (a hit at Sundance 2011). On Broadway Afton starred opposite James Spader and David Alan Grier in David Mamet's Race. Williamson, an Ohio native, received a BFA from Eastern Michigan University and earned an MFA from the University of Alabama. She makes her home in New York City.