Cast Annouced for Busch's Murder-Comedy, 'Die Mommie Die!'

Casting is now complete for the off-Broadway premiere of Charles Busch's acclaimed comedy Die Mommie Die!  Produced by Bob Boyett and Daryl Roth, and directed by Carl Andress, Die Mommie Die! begins preview performances on Wednesday October 10 at New World Stages (340 W. 50th St.). Opening Night is Sunday October 21 at 7PM. This limited Off-Broadway engagement ends on Sunday February 17, 2008.

"A riotous comedy-thriller steeped in the glamour of 1960s Hollywood, Die Mommie Die! stars playwright Charles Busch as Angela Arden, a fallen pop diva trapped in a hateful marriage to film producer Sol Sussman.  Desperate to find happiness with her younger lover, an out-of-work TV actor named Tony Parker, Angela gruesomely murders her husband with the aid of a poisoned suppository," explain press notes, "In a plot that reflects Greek tragedy as well as Hollywood kitsch, Angela's manipulative daughter, Edith, convinces her emotionally disturbed brother, Lance, that together they must avenge their father's death…by killing their mother!"

Die Mommie Die! stars Bob Ari (The Constant Wife) as Sol Sussman, Chris Hoch (Spamalot) as Tony Parker, newcomer Ashley Morris as Edith, Kristine Nielsen (Our Leading Lady) as the Sussman's live-in domestic, Bootsie Carp, and Emmy Award nominee Van Hansis as Lance. Hansis rose to fame earlier this year after having participated in the first on-screen gay kiss in daytime soap opera history on As the World Turns.

Die Mommie Die! features scenic design by Michael Anania, costume design by Jessica Jahn, lighting design by Ben Stanton and original music composition by Lewis Flinn.  Mr. Busch's costumes are designed and created by Michael Bottari and Ronald Case, who designed Busch's 40 costumes in the film version and will be adding a few surprise designs.

Playwright Charles Busch is the author of Our Leading Lady, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, Shangai Moon, The Lady in Question, Psycho Beach Party and Vampire Lesbians of Sodom, among many others. In 2003 he collaborated with Boy George on the Broadway musical Taboo. Busch also wrote and starred in the 2003 film version of Die Mommie Die!

Visit www.dmdtheplay.com for more details and up-to-date information.

Die Mommie Die! plays at off-Broadway's New World Stages (340 W. 50th St. between 8th & 9th Ave).  The show runs 90 minutes and is recommended for ages 16 and up. The regular performance schedule is as follows: Tuesday through Fridays at 8PM; Saturdays at 7PM & 10PM; and Sundays at 3PM & 7PM.  During previews Die Mommie Die! will play Saturdays at 2PM & 8PM.  There will be no Sunday matinee performances on October 14 or October 21.

Tickets are now available by calling www.telecharge.com at 212-239-6200, or in-person at the New World Stages Box Office.  Tickets for all preview performances through Saturday, October 20 are only $35 each.  Tickets for all regular performances beginning Tuesday, October 23 are scaled at $45-$70. Tickets for all Saturday 10 p.m. performances are $35 each.

Pictured (l-r, top-bottom): Charles Busch, Bob Ari, Van Hansis, Ashley Morris, Chris Hoch and Kristine Nielsen