Nick Westrate and Jeff Still Join Off-Broadway's TRIBES

The producers of the acclaimed new Off-Broadway hit Tribes have announced new additions to the clan: Nick Westrate, winner of a 2012 Special Drama Desk Award for his versatility in the 2011-2012 season (Unnatural Acts, Love's Labor's Lost, and Galileo) will temporarily assume the role of Daniel while Will Brill takes a leave of absence from May 30 – July 1, and Jeff Still, who originated leading roles in the Barrow Street Theatre productions of Our Town and Orson's Shadow (both directed by David Cromer), will assume the role of Christopher beginning July 1, replacing Jeff Perry, who departs to begin filming the second season of ABC's "Scandal." Tribes, which recently won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Foreign Play,is currently in performance at The Barrow Street Theatre (27 Barrow Street).

Written by Nina Raine and directed by multiple Lortel and Obie Award-winner David Cromer, the cast also features Russell Harvard (There Will Be Blood), Susan Pourfar (When the Rain Stops Falling), Gayle Rankin (The Illusion at Signature Theatre), and Academy Award® nominee and Emmy Award®-winner Mare Winningham (Georgia), who can also currently be seen as 'Sally McCoy' in the History Channel miniseries "Hatfield & McCoys." Tribes began previews on February 16, 2012 and opened on March 4, 2012; tickets are on sale through September 2, 2012.

In Tribes, Billy was born deaf into a hearing family, and raised inside the fiercely idiosyncratic and unrepentantly politically incorrect cocoon of his parents' house. He has adapted brilliantly to his family's unconventional ways, but they've never bothered to return the favor. It's not until he meets Sylvia, a young woman on the brink of deafness, that he finally understands what it means to be understood.

The most nominated new play the season, Tribes has garnered 20 awards nominations and was declared "Best Foreign Play" by the New York Drama Critics Circle and "Best New Play" by the Off-Broadway Alliance. In addition, two cast members have also received accolades for their performances: Russell Harvard was given the 2012 Theatre World Award for his New York debut, and theatre veteran Susan Pourfar received a 2012 Obie Award, 2012 Dorothy Loudon Award from Theatre World and 2012 Clarence Derwent Award from Actors Equity Association for her acclaimed performance.

The design team for Tribes includes Scenic Design by multiple Tony Award®-winner Scott Pask (The Book of Mormon), Costume Design by Tristan Raines (The Merchant of Venice), Lighting Design by Keith Parham (Adding Machine), Sound Design by Daniel Kluger (The Temperamentals), Projection Design by Jeff Sugg (Chinglish) and Casting by Pat McCorkle. The Production Stage Manager is Richard A. Hodge.

Tribesis produced Off-Broadway by Scott Morfee, Jean Doumanian, Tom Wirtshafter, Patrick Daly, 2Manocherians, Christian Chadd Taylor, Burnt Umber Productions, Robert E Kass and Marc & Lisa Biales.

Tickets for Tribes are $75.00 and can be purchased online at www.smarttix.com, on the phone at 212-868-4444, or in person at the Barrow Street Theatre box office, open at 1:00 PM daily. The performance schedule is Tuesday – Friday at 7:30 PM, Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 PM & 7:30 PM.

The Barrow Street Theatre is located at 27 Barrow Street at 7th Avenue South in the heart of Greenwich Village. Nearby subway stops are the 1 at Christopher Street (walk 1 block South on 7th Avenue to Barrow) and the A, C, E, B, D, F and M at West 4th (walk West on 4th Street, left on Barrow).

For more information, visit www.barrowstreettheatre.com.

Nick Westrate (Daniel)'s Broadway credits include A Moon for the Misbegotten. Off-Broadway: Galileo (CSC), Love's Labor's Lost (The Public; St. Clair Bayfield Award for Outstanding Shakespearean Performance), Unnatural Acts (CSC), The Little Foxes (NYTW), The Boys in the Band (Transport Group; Drama Desk nom. Outstanding Featured Actor), Terre Haute, The Vietnamization of New Jersey, PeopleSpeak, All That I Will Ever Be. Regional: The Whipping Man, Tartuffe (Yale/McCarter), The Merchant of Venice (CalShakes), Edward II (REDCat, L.A.), A Midsummer Night's Dream (MoCA, Chicago). Film: CARE. Television: Blue Bloods (CBS), New Amsterdam (FOX), MildrEd Pierce (HBO). Training: Juilliard. NYTW Usual Suspect. Nick is the recipient of a Special Drama Desk Award for his versatility in the 2011-2012 season.

Jeff Still (Christopher) returns to Barrow Street where he appeared as Orson Welles in Orson's Shadow and Doc Gibbs in Our Town. On Broadway he understudied Dan Lauria as Vince in Lombardi and was in both the Broadway and National Touring productions of August: Osage County. Regional credits include Rothko in RED, Salieri in Amadeus, and Dr. Sweet in Tracy Letts' BUG at the Gate Theatre in London. Originally from New Jersey, Jeff spent over 20 years in Chicago where his credits include Glengarry Glen Ross, Awake and Sing!, The Price and, at Steppenwolf, A Clockwork Orange, Mother Courage, The Dresser, and You Can't Take it With You (directed by Jeff Perry). Film: Public Enemies, The Express, and the upcoming Apartment 6E. TV: "Law & Order," "Early Edition," "Good Night, Sweet Wife," "To Sir With Love, II."

Photo credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.