Playwrights Horizons Extends Silver's 'Three Changes' ; Hopper to Join Cast

Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) has announced that, due to popular demand, it will extend its World Premiere production of THREE CHANGES, a new play by Nicky Silver (Fit to Be Tied at Playwrights Horizons, The Food Chain, Pterodactyls, Raised in Captivity).  In addition to the extension starting Tuesday, September 30, the theater company is also adding two special Wednesday matinees on September 10 and September 24, both at 2:30 PM.  Tickets for all new performances are now on sale.

Currently in previews, THREE CHANGES is the opening production of the theater company’s 2008/2009 Season.  Directed by Tony Award nominee Wilson Milam (The Lieutenant of Inishmore), the play has an Opening Night set for Tuesday, September 16 at 7:00 PM.  Originally set to play a limited engagement through Sunday, September 28, the production will now play through Friday, October 3 at Playwrights Horizons’ Mainstage Theater (416 West 42nd Street).  

 Now through the original end date of September 28, the cast features Golden Globe winner and Emmy Award nominee Dylan McDermott (“The Practice,” Drama League Award nomination for The Culture Project’s production of Eve Ensler’s The Treatment, Broadway debut in Biloxi Blues); Emmy Award nominee Maura Tierney (Dr. Abby Lockhart on “ER,” Some Girl(s) at MCC); film, television and stage star Scott Cohen (Drunk Enough to Say I Love You? at The Public, Broadway’s Losing Louie, “Gilmore Girls”), Aya Cash (The Pain and the Itch at Playwrights Horizons, From Up Here at MTC); and Brian J. Smith (Good Boys and True at Second Stage, MTC’s Come Back, Little Sheba).    

Beginning September 30, Obie Award winner Tim Hopper (More Stately Mansions, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, The Dying Gaul and Playwrights Horizons’ Carson McCullers all Off-Broadway; the Broadway revival of Present Laughter; TV’s “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Oz”) will join the cast, assuming the role of ‘Nate.’  The role is currently being played by Mr. McDermott, who cannot play the extension due to prior commitments.

In THREE CHANGES, Nate (Mr. McDermott through Sept 28, Mr. Hopper as of Sept 30) and Laurel (Ms. Tierney) are a comfortably married, Upper West Side couple – until Nate’s wayward brother Hal (Mr. Cohen) arrives from Hollywood.  What at first seems a casual visit, a chance to reconnect, is quickly revealed as something more ominous.  Hal may have had success, but human connection is all that matters, and he intends to make connections – no matter who pays the price.  Nicky Silver’s THREE CHANGES is a funny and darkly suspenseful look at the joy of family, and how far we’ll go to get it.

The production features scenic design by two-time Obie Award winner Neil Patel, costume design by Theresa Squire, lighting design by Ben Stanton and sound design by Bart Fasbender. Fight Director is J. David Brimmer and Production Stage Manager is William H. Lang.

     Playwrights Horizons’ 2008/2009 Season is generously supported by The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust.

Playwrights Horizons is supported in part by public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, the New York State Assembly and the New York State Senate.  In addition, Playwrights Horizons receives major support from Carnegie Corporation of New York, The Charina Endowment Fund, The Peter Jay Sharp Foundation, The Shubert Foundation and Time Warner Inc.

The performance schedule for THREE CHANGES is Tuesdays through Fridays at 8:00 PM, Saturdays at 2:30 & 8:00 PM and Sundays at 2:30 & 7:30 PM.  Tickets, $65, may be purchased online via TicketCentral.com, by phone at (212) 279-4200 (Noon-8pm daily), or in person at the Ticket Central Box Office, 416 West 42nd Street (between Ninth & Tenth Avenues).  

 HOTtix and STUDENT RUSH are two of Playwrights Horizons’ popular Arts Access initiatives, which allow the theater company to reach out to those who may not be able to afford the cost of a full-price theater ticket.  Playwrights Horizons is grateful to Goldman, Sachs & Co., lead sponsor of Arts Access at Playwrights Horizons.  This program is also supported, in part, by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

Reflecting Playwrights Horizons’ ongoing commitment to making its productions more affordable to younger audiences, the theater company will offer HOTtix, $20 rush tickets, subject to availability, day of performance only, starting one hour before showtime to patrons aged 30 and under. Proof of age required. One ticket per person, per purchase. STUDENT RUSH, $15 rush tickets, subject to availability, day of performance only, starting one hour before curtain to full-time graduate and undergraduate students. One ticket per person, per purchase. Valid student ID required. 

In addition, there are three remaining special Post-Performance Discussions with members of the cast and creative team will take place immediately after the following performances: Friday, September 5 at 8:00 PM, Sunday, September 14 at 2:30 PM and Wednesday, October 1 at 8:00 PM.

For subscription and ticket information to all Playwrights Horizons productions, call TICKET CENTRAL at (212) 279-4200, Noon to 8 pm daily, or purchase online at the Playwrights Horizons website at www.playwrightshorizons.org

Photo of Tim Hopper in Almost an Evening by Doug Hamilton

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