THE CHRISTIANS Starts New York Premiere Tonight at Playwrights Horizons

Playwrights Horizons and Center Theatre Group present The Christians, the New York premiere of a new play by Lucas Hnath (A Public Reading of an Unproduced Screenplay About the Death of Walt Disney, Isaac's Eye, Death Tax). Directed by Obie Award winner Les Waters (Doris to Darlene at PH; the recent 10 Out of 12; In the Next Room, or the vibrator play; Big Love; eurydice), the play is the opening production of the theater company's 2015/2016 Season.

The cast of The Christians features Emily Donahoe (33 Variations on Broadway; Queens Boulevard-the musical, Apparition Off-Broadway; The Christians at Humana; "Homeland"), Andrew Garman (Salome on Broadway; Ashville, Burning, Uncle Vanya, Hamlet Off-Broadway; The Christians at Humana), Philip Kerr (The End of the Day at PH; A Time to Kill, Macbeth, Tiny Alice on Broadway; As You Like It Off-Broadway; opposite Dame Judith Anderson's Hamlet at Carnegie Hall), Larry Powell (While I Yet Live, Broke-ology Off-Broadway; The Christians at Humana) and Linda Powell (On Golden Pond, Wilder Wilder Wilder on Broadway; Omnium Gatherum, Jar the Floor, Jitney Off-Broadway; The Christians at Humana; "The Good Wife").

The production also features a rotating 20-person choir, drawing singers from all five boroughs.

THE CHRISTIANS begins previews tonight, August 28, 2015 with an Opening Night set for Thursday, September 17 at 7PM. The limited engagement will play through Sunday evening, October 11 at Playwrights Horizons' Mainstage Theater (416 West 42nd Street).

Ten years ago, Pastor Paul's (Mr. Garman) church was a modest storefront. Now it houses thousands, with a coffee shop in the lobby and a baptismal font as big as a swimming pool. But Paul is about to preach a sermon that will shake the foundation of his congregation's beliefs. Backed by a live choir, The Christians is both epic and unexpectedly intimate, an unflinching look at faith in America - and its power to unite or divide.

The production includes scenic design by Dane Laffrey, music supervisor David Dabbon, costume design by Connie Furr, lighting design by Tony Award nominee Ben Stanton and sound design by Jake Rodriguez. Production Stage Manager will be Marisa Levy.

Following the New York run, The Christians will be presented by Center Theatre Group in its Los Angeles premiere at The Mark Taper Forum from December 2, 2015 through January 10, 2016, with an opening night of December 13.

THE CHRISTIANS had its world premiere in the 2014 Humana Festival of New American Plays at Actors Theatre of Louisville (Louisville, KY) in March 2014, also directed by Mr. Waters.