Deuce, with Lansbury & Seldes, Begins 4/16; Opens 5/6

Legendary star Angela Lansbury will make her long-awaited return to the Broadway stage this spring, starring opposite Marian Seldes in the world premiere of Deuce, a new play by Terrence McNally and directed by Michael Blakemore.

Deuce, which marks Ms. Lansbury's first role on Broadway in almost 25 years, will open Sunday, May 6th at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street), with previews beginning Monday, April 16th.   The production will play a strictly limited engagement of 18 weeks. 

"Lansbury and Seldes star in Deuce as two former doubles tennis legends, reunited at a championship match, in McNally's warmly funny and unexpectedly moving new play," as press materials describe the show.

In her 60-plus year career on stage, film and television, Ms. Lansbury received four Tony Awards for her starring roles in Mame, Dear World, Gypsy and Sweeney Todd, three Academy Award nominations for Gaslight (her screen debut), The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Manchurian Candidate, and 18 Emmy Award nominations, including 12 for her long-running television series, "Murder, She Wrote." 

Seldes won a Tony for A Delicate Balance, and has been nominated for her performances in Father's Day, Deathtrap, Ring Round the Moon, and Dinner at Eight.  Last season, she earned rave reviews for her performance in McNally's Dedication, or the Stuff of Dreams.

McNally has won Tony Awards for his plays, Love! Valour! Compassion! and Master Class, and for his books for the musicals, Kiss of the Spider Woman and Ragtime. Blakemore won Tony Awards in the same year for his direction of the play, Copenhagen, and the musical, Kiss Me Kate.

Additional casting and the Deuce creative team will be announced in coming weeks.

Deuce will be produced on Broadway by Scott Rudin, Stuart Thompson, Maberry Theatricals, The Shubert Organization, Roger Berlind, Debra Black, Bob Boyett, Susan Dietz and Daryl Roth, in association with Primary Stages. 

Tickets for Deuce will be on sale exclusively to American Express Card members beginning Sunday, January 14, 2007 at www.telecharge.com or by calling TeleCharge at 212: 239-6200.   Public on sale will begin on Saturday, January 27.