A LIFE IN THE THEATRE Starring André De Shields Opens at Alliance Theatre, 10/28

A LIFE IN THE THEATRE starring Tony Award nominee Andre De Shields will open at the ALLIANCE THEATRE in Atlanta on October 28th. This dark comedy by David Mamet's will run through November 15th. The cast also features Ariel Shafir.

Broadway legend André De Shields will headline in Mamet's (Glengarry GLen Ross, Wag the Dog, American Buffalo) blistering and darkly comic tale of two actors, one of whom is on top of his game, but searching for fulfillment, while the other will do anything to advance his career. As the show transforms from drama to farce, the characters transform from friends to enemies.

André De Shields' legendary career spans four decades and has generated considerable critical acclaim for his show-stopping performances in the original Broadway productions of four musicals: The Full Monty, Play On!, Ain't Misbehavin' and The Wiz (in which he originated the title role). An Emmy Award-wining and Tony Award-nominated actor, André makes his ALLIANCE THEATRE debut in A LIFE IN THE THEATRE.

Ariel Shafir returns to the Alliance after his award-winning performance in the Alliance's comedy The Underpants. Other career highlights include performing opposite Lynn Redgrave in Christopher Durang's Sister Mary Ignatius Explains it All.

A LIFE IN THE THEATRE was first produced in the US at the Goodman Theatre, Chicago, Illinois, in February 1977, starring Mike Nussbaum and Joe Mantegna and directed by Gregory Mosher. It was revived at the Goodman in March 2006, directed by Artistic Director Robert Falls. The play was first produced off-Broadway at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (then the Theatre De Lys) in October 1977 through July 1978, with Ellis Rabb as Robert and Peter Evans as John and directed by Gerald Gutierrez. It was also produced off-Broadway at the Jewish Repertory Theatre in February 1992 through March 1992, with F. Murray Abraham as Robert and Anthony Fusco as John.

Tickets range from $20 to $30 and are available online or through the box office at 404-733-5000. Performances take place Tuesday through Saturday at 8pm, Saturdays at 2:30pm and Sundays at 3:30pm and 7:30pm.

Now in its 40th season, Atlanta's nationally acclaimed ALLIANCE THEATRE, recipient of the 2007 Regional Theatre Tony Award®, is the leading professional resident theatre of the Southeast, creating the powerful experience of shared theatre for diverse people on two stages for youth and adult audiences. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Susan V. Booth and Managing Director Thomas Pechar, the ALLIANCE THEATRE is a National Theatre with a local address, reaching out annually to almost 200,000 patrons and members of the community. Known for its high artistic standards and national role in creating significant theatrical works, the Alliance launched three Tony Award-winning hits to Broadway: Alice Walker's The Color Purple, Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida and Alfred Uhry's The Last Night of Ballyhoo. And, in a rare event for a regional theatre, it originated the national tour of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. The theatre has premiered more than 50 works including adaptations of Carson McCullers' The Heart is a Lonely Hunter and Pearl Cleage's Blues for an Alabama Sky. Further evidence of the Alliance's commitment to new work is found in its nationally recognized Kendeda Graduate Playwriting Competition, a cutting-edge program introducing student playwrights to professional networks while producing the world premiere of the winning student's work. The ALLIANCE THEATRE also offers extensive education and outreach programs such as the Institute for Educators and the Collision Project for high school students. The Alliance continuously brings Atlanta the finest talent and finest art-proving once again that the Alliance is where great theatre lives.