Photo Flash: First Look at Milwaukee Rep's THE INVISIBLE HAND

Milwaukee Repertory Theater announced today the casting and creative team for the upcoming production of The Invisible Hand, which begins performances in the Stiemke Studio on February 24. Kidnapped investment banker Nick Bright desperately plays the world financial markets from a cell in Pakistan to pay his own ransom. In demonstrating the ideology of free market capitalism, he profoundly alters his relationship with his captors, and his captors' relationship with the world. The Invisible Hand measures one man's will to survive and its profound affect on global politics.

The Invisible Hand marks the first of four plays to be produced by Milwaukee Repertory Theater in partnership with Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Ayad Akhtar. His other plays include Disgraced (Broadway, LCT3/Lincoln Center Theater, 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and 2013 Obie Award for Extraordinary Achievement) and The Who & The What (LCT3/Lincoln Center Theater and La Jolla Playhouse). He is the author of American Dervish, published in 2012 by Little, Brown and Company, also in 20 languages worldwide. He holds degrees from Brown University and Columbia University's School of the Arts.

"I met Ayad some time ago, rather informally, when he was signing copies of his novel at a conference. When I introduced myself as the Artistic Director of Milwaukee Repertory Theater, he stopped to give me a huge hug," said Artistic Director Mark Clements. "Originally from Brookfield, Ayad grew up seeing shows at The Rep. It felt natural for us to start a conversation, which became a friendship, and then an alliance. And now we share a reciprocal gratitude. I know he is proud to return to Milwaukee with his work, and we are proud to present it. The Invisible Hand chronicles the conversation between the political and the individual, and captures how money can change the human heart. Like much of Ayad's work, this play derives salient questions from the collision of seemingly disparate cultures."

The cast members for The Invisible Hand, all of whom are making Milwaukee Rep debuts, include: Shalin Agarwal (Old Globe Theatre, Penobscot Theatre Company; Television: 30 Rock, One Life to Live, As the World Turns) as Bashir; Owais Ahmed (Steppenwolf Theatre Company, TimeLine Theatre Company, Victory Gardens Theater; Film: Batman V. Superman: Dawn Of Justice; TV: Empire) as Dar; Tom Coiner (Contemporary American Theatre Festival, Asolo Rep, Geva Theatre, Colorado Shakespeare Festival; TV: the HBO miniseries Crime) as Nick Bright; and Tony Mirrcandani (Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Pulse Ensemble Theatre; Film: Ender's Game; TV: Bones, American Odyssey, Criminal Minds) as Imam Saleem.

The creative team for The Invisible Hand includes: Lucie Tiberghien (Director); Dan Conway (Scenic Designer); Leslie Vaglica (Costume Designer); Robert Perry (Lighting Designer); Victoria Deiorio (Sound Designer); Jill Walmsley Zager (Dialect Coach); Jamie Cheatham (Fight Director); JC Clementz (Casting Director); Stephanie Klapper (New York Casting Director); Kimberly Carolus (Stage Manager); and Audra Kuchling (Assistant Stage Manager). Emerging Professional Residents include: Ryan Holihan (Assistant Director).

Photos by Michael Brosilow