MTC's THE NICETIES Begins Previews Tomorrow

Manhattan Theatre Club's New York premiere of The Niceties, written by Eleanor Burgess and directed by Kimberly Senior (Disgraced), begins performances tomorrow at The Studio at Stage II - Harold and Mimi Steinberg New Play Series at New York City Center (131 W. 55th Street). Opening night is set for Thursday, October 25.

The Niceties stars Lisa Banes (Present Laughter) and Jordan Boatman (Hulu's "The Path").

MTC is pleased to present The Niceties in association with Huntington Theatre Company and McCarter Theatre Center. This production debuted at the Huntington Theatre Company in Boston, MA from August 31 - September 30, 2018 prior to arriving at Manhattan Theatre Club; it will then play McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton, NJ from January 11 - February 10, 2019. The Nicetieswas originally presented as part of MTC's Ted Snowdon Reading Series in 2017.

At an elite East Coast university, an ambitious young black student and her esteemed white professor meet to discuss a paper the college junior is writing about the American Revolution. They're both liberal. They're both women. They're both brilliant. But very quickly, discussions of grammar and Google turn to race and reputation, and before they know it, they're in dangerous territory neither of them had foreseen - and facing stunning implications that can't be undone. Written with powerful truth and humor by Eleanor Burgess, this deeply resonant work is directed by Kimberly Senior (Disgraced). The Washington Post hails it as "a barnstormer of a play," adding that it's "one of the best plays I've seen about who gets to tell the story of America, and how."

In order to ensure that tickets to The Niceties are affordable to the widest and most diverse audiences possible, MTC will price all tickets during the show's initial five-week run at $35.

The design team includes Cameron Anderson (Scenic Design), Kara Harmon (Costume Design), D.M. Wood (Lighting Design), and Elisheba Ittoop (Original Music & Sound Design).

Tickets for The Niceties can be purchased online at www.nycitycenter.org, by calling CityTix at 212-581-1212, or by visiting the New York City Center box office (131 West 55th Street). New and renewing subscribers can join MTC's 2018-2019 season by calling The MTC Clubline at 212-399-3050. For more information, please visit www.manhattantheatreclub.com.

Photo Credit: T. Charles Erickson