Prompter on Hand for First Week of THE STARRY MESSENGER

According to the cast, a prompter will be on hand for the first week of performances of THE STARRY MESSENGER, the New York Times reports. As the director/writer Kenneth Lonergan continually made changes up to the first preview performance, actors felt they would be more comfortable on stage with a line prompter in the first row to assist them if necessary. Due to the last minute rewrites, the cast was unable to hold a full run through with an audience prior to the first preview. The New York Times reports that during the first preview on Monday, the show's star, Matthew Broderick, called out for about 10 lines throughout the night.

The need for the prompter during these early runs is was also necessary due to the recent, and somewhat last minute, cast change, which involved Merwin Goldsmith taking over the role originally played by Jonathan Hadary.

To read the full article from The New York Times, click here.

The New Group The Starry Messenger written and directed by Kenneth Lonergan is the first production in its 2009-2010 season. This production plays a limited Off-Broadway engagement from October 26 - December 12 at The New Group @ Theatre Row, with Official Opening Night now set for Monday, November 23 at 8:00 PM. 

In Messenger, Mark teaches astronomy in the basement of the Hayden Planetarium, struggling with a dead-end career and the monotony of suburban married life. His world is transformed by a chance meeting with Angela, a driven young single mother striving for a brighter future for her and her son. The Starry Messenger explores relationships and the impact they have on individuals, their families and their friends.

The Starry Messenger features Matthew Broderick as "Mark" and Catalina Sandino Moreno as "Angela," with J. Smith-Cameron as Mark's wife "Anne." They are joined by Stephanie Cannon (TV: "Law & Order"), Kieran Culkin (Film: Igby Goes Down), Merwin Goldsmith (B'way: Ain't Broadway Grand; Off-B'way at The New Group: Thousand Years), Grant Shaud (TV: "Murphy Brown;" Off-B'way: After Ashley) and Missy Yager (Off-B'way at The New Group: Kenneth Lonergan's This is Our Youth).

Set Design is by Derek McLane (B'way: Grease, I Am My Own Wife; Off-B'way at The New Group: Groundswell, Rafta, Rafta..., Aunt Dan and Lemon, numerous others), Costume Design is by Mattie Ullrich (B'way: The Women; Off-B'way at The New Group: Things We Want, Roar), Lighting Design is by Jason Lyons (B'way: Rock of Ages, The Threepenny Opera, Nine; Off-B'way at The New Group: Groundswell, Rafta, Rafta..., Two Thousand Years, numerous others) and Sound Design is by Shane Rettig (Off-B'way at The New Group: Groundswell, Rafta, Rafta..., Rich Boyfriend).

Tickets for The Starry Messenger may be arranged through Ticket Central at www.ticketcentral.com or (212) 279-4200, or at the Theatre Row Box Office (12:00-8:00 PM daily). Tickets are $60.00 plus $1.25 restoration fee. For more information, and to access a complete performance schedule visit www.thenewgroup.org.

The New Group (Scott Elliott, Artistic Director; Geoff Rich, Executive Director): The most recent 2008-2009 season began with the U.S. premiere of Kevin Elyot's Mouth to Mouth followed by Eugene O'Neill's Mourning Becomes Electra and concluded with the critically acclaimed Groundswell. The company's 2007-2008 season featured the premiere of Jonathan Marc Sherman's Things We Want directed by Ethan Hawke, Mike Leigh's Two Thousand Years and Ayub Khan-Din's Rafta, Rafta.... The 2006-07 season featured Jay Presson Allen's The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Wallace Shawn's The Fever and Bernard Weinraub's The Accomplices. Other past productions include David Rabe's Hurlyburly, Mike Leigh's Abigail's Party, Smelling a Rat, Goose-Pimples and Ecstasy, Wallace Shawn's Aunt Dan and Lemon, Kenneth Lonnergan's This is Our Youth, Kevin Elyot's My Night With Reg, and many more. The New Group is a recipient of the 2004 Tony® Award for Best Musical (Avenue Q).

 

 

 

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