New Group's 'Jean Brodie' Begins Previews Sept. 20

The New Group will kick off its 11th season with Jay Presson Allen's The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, adapted from the novel by Muriel Spark, directed by Scott Elliott (The Threepenny Opera, Abigail's Party). Starring Tony Award-winner Cynthia Nixon in the title role, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie will play September 20 – November 11 at The New Group at Theatre Row (The Acorn Theater / 410 West 42nd Street).  The official opening is set for Monday, October 9 at 7:00 PM.
 
"The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie is set in the 1930s in a conservative Scottish girls' school, where the students idolize their scandalously outspoken teacher Miss Brodie, who preaches the value of art, passion and daring. But while Brodie's young protégées avidly look to her as a mentor, her political ideals, personal rivalries and frank sensuality threaten to destroy her and those around her," according to press notes.

Based on the 1962 novel by Muriel Spark, the play by Jay Presson Allen premiered in London in 1966 starring Vanessa Redgrave and opened on Broadway in 1968 with Zoe Caldwell in the title role, a performance that earned her a Tony Award.  The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie hit the silver screen in 1969 starring Maggie Smith (Academy Award for Best Actress) and later became a television series (1978).

The New Group's The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie features Emily Bicks, Ritchie Coster, Lisa Emery, Betsy Hogg, Zoe Kazan, Caroline Lagerfelt, John Pankow, Caity Quinn  Matthew Rauch, Sarah Steele and Halley Wegryn Gross, with Cynthia Nixon in the title role.  This production includes original music by Tom Kochan, set design by Derek McLane, lighting design by Jason Lyons, costume design by Eric Becker and Sound Design by Daniel Baker.                                                                                                                                                                    

Writer Jay Presson Allen's other plays include Tru and Forty Carats. Her film credits include Cabaret, Marnie, Prince of the City, Deathtrap, Funny Lady, Travels With My Aunt , Just Tell Me What You Want and the screen version of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.                       
                        
Later this season, The New Group will present Wallace Shawn's The Fever, followed by The Accomplices by Bernard Weinraub.
      
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie will play as follows at The New Group @atTheatre Row (The Acorn Theater / 410 West 42nd Street, between 9th & 10th Avenue): Monday–Saturday at 8:00 PM, with matinees on Saturday at 2:00 PM.  Please note: there will be no performance on Monday, October 16.  Tickets 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 $56.25. For more information, visit www.thenewgroup.org.