The Marriage Play Begins Performances 8/17th At The Cherry Lane Theater; A.J. Shively Joins The Cast

Broadway's Sean Bradford (The Lion King) and Adam Kantor (RENT),in association with The Present Company, will present the world-premiere of A Contemporary American's Guide to a Successful Marriage © 1959 written by Robert Bastron and directed by Adam Fitzgerald at the Cherry Lane Theatre, 38 Commerce Street, as part of the 2009 New York International Fringe Festival.

A.J Shively, will replace Alex Brightman as Daniel Henry.

Set against the backdrop of the late 1950's and told in the style of the social guidance films of that era, A Contemporary American's Guide to a Successful Marriage © 1959 follows two young couples, from courtship to matrimony, and ultimately what comes after.

The new comedy stars A.J. Shively (Sound of Music) as child prodigy turned medical student Daniel Henry, Autumn Hurlbert (Legally Blonde, and MTV's "Legally Blonde: The Search for Elle Woods") as teenage bride Abigail Lawrence, Merideth Forlenza (Pal Joey) as trailer trash turned millionaire Ruth Gundley, and Lee Aaron Rosen as All-American football jock Mason Lawrence. Completing the cast is Frances Mercanti-Anthony (Spring Awakening) as Dorothy, Chris Henry Coffey, Colin Israel, Miranda Jackel, Rob Sheridan, Anna Stone, and Monica West.

Playwright Robert Bastron is a graduate of the UCLA Theatre Program and member of the BMI Workshop. He most recently wrote the book for Hey You Know What Movie Would Make a Good Musical? Adam Fitzgerald is currently the Robert Moss Directing Resident at Playwrights Horizons serving as assistant director to Wilson Milam, Bartlett Sher and Kate Whoriskey. Producers Sean Bradford and Adam Kantor are co-founders of the not-for-profit organization Broadway in South Africa.

A Contemporary American's Guide to a Successful Marriage © 1959 plays Monday, August 17 at 2:15pm and 7:00pm; Tuesday, August 18 at 3:15pm; Thursday August 20 at 2:30pm, and Friday August 21 at 2pm at The Cherry Lane Theatre, 38 Commerce Street (Between Bedford & Barrow). The theatre is accessible via the 1 train at Christopher Street. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online www.themarriageplay.com, by calling 1-866-468-7619, or in person beginning July 31st at Fringe Central (54 Crosby Street,between Spring and Broome). For information regarding VIP tickets for the August 17th, Opening Night Performance, email:the marriageplay@gmail.com