Kerry Butler, Crystal A. Dickinson and More to Lead Primary Stages/Playwrights Horizons' THE CALL

Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) and Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Founder & Executive Producer; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director) have announced casting for their World Premiere co-production of THE CALL, a new play by Tanya Barfield (Blue Door at Playwrights Horizons/PH).

Directed by two-time Obie Award winner Leigh Silverman (Go Back to Where You Are and Blue Door at PH; Hunting and Gathering at Primary Stages/PS; Golden Child, Chinglish, Well, In the Wake), the production will begin previews Friday evening, March 22 at 7:30 PM with an Opening Night set for Sunday, April 14 at 7PM. The limited engagement will play through Sunday, May 19 at Playwrights Horizons' Peter Jay Sharp Theater (416 West 42nd Street).

The production reunites Ms. Barfield and Ms. Silverman, who previously collaborated on the Playwrights Horizons production of Blue Door in 2006.

The cast of THE CALL will feature Kelly AuCoin (Happy Now?, Boy, The Two of Us at PS, Radiance, Julius Caesar), Tony Award nominee Kerry Butler (Xanadu, Gore Vidal's The Best Man, Catch Me If You Can, Hairspray), Obie Award winner Eisa Davis (This at PH, Luck of the Irish, Passing Strange, Angela's Mix Tape, "Damages"), Theatre World Award winner Crystal A. Dickinson (Clybourne Park at PH, Ruined, Broke-ology) and Obie Award and Screen Actors Guild Award winner Russell G. Jones (Our Lady of 121st Street, Ruined, Traffic, "Smash").

When Annie (Ms. Butler) and Peter (Mr. AuCoin) decide to adopt, they come to set their sights on a child from Africa. But when the reality of this choice sinks in, it opens a well of uncertainty that speaks to their very identity as White Americans. Politically-charged and tack-sharp, THE CALL is a startling portrait of cultural divide, casting global issues into the heart of an American home.

The production features scenic design by Rachel Hauck, costume design by Emily Rebholtz, lighting design by Matt Frey and sound design by Jill BC DuBoff. Production Stage Manager is Vanessa Coakley.

The performance schedule for THE CALL is Tuesdays through Fridays at 7:30 PM, Saturdays at 2 & 7:30 PM and Sundays at 2 & 7PM, with additional Wednesday matinee performances on April 24 at 2PM and May 1 at 2PM. Single tickets, $60 with some premium seats available at $72, may be purchased online via www.TicketCentral.com, by phone at (212) 279-4200 (Noon-8pm daily), or in person at the Ticket Central Box Office, 416 West 42nd Street (between Ninth & Tenth Avenues).

A ticketing initiative created in 2007 as part of Playwrights Horizons' Arts Access program, LIVEforFIVE makes a limited number of $5 tickets available for the first preview performance of each Playwrights Horizons production through a lottery via the company's website (www.PlaywrightsHorizons.org). The LIVEforFIVE lottery for THE CALL will be for tickets to the first preview on Friday evening, March 22 at 7:30 PM.

Details for the LIVEforFIVE lottery are as follows: beginning Wednesday, March 13 at 10AM, theatergoers can enter the lottery by filling out an entry form at www.PlaywrightsHorizons.org. Entries will be accepted until Monday, March 18 at 12 Noon. Winners of the lottery will be notified via email no later than 3PM on Monday, March 18 with instructions on how to book their $5 tickets. Unclaimed tickets will be offered via email to a limited standby list starting at 12 Noon on Tuesday, March 19 on a first-come, first-served basis. One or two tickets may be purchased for $5 each. Up to 40 tickets will be available for Sharp shows via the lottery.

Reflecting Playwrights Horizons' ongoing commitment to making its productions more affordable to younger audiences, the theater company will offer HOTtix, $25 rush tickets, subject to availability, day of performance only, starting one hour before showtime to patrons aged 30 and under. Proof of age required. One ticket per person, per purchase.

LIVEforFIVE and HOTtix are two of Playwrights Horizons' popular Arts Access initiatives, which allow the institution to reach out to those who may not be able to afford the cost of a full-price theater ticket. This program is supported, in part, by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and The McGraw-Hill Companies.

In addition, special Post-Performance Discussions with members of the creative team will take place immediately after the following five performances: Wednesday evening, March 27 at 7:30; Sunday matinee, March 31 at 2PM; Tuesday evening, April 2 at 7:30 PM; Thursday evening, April 18 at 7:30 PM; and Wednesday evening, April 24 at 7:30 PM.

Playwrights Horizons' season productions are generously supported in part by The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

Playwrights Horizons is supported in part by public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. In addition, Playwrights Horizons receives major support from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Peter Jay Sharp Foundation and the Time Warner Foundation.

Currently in rehearsals at Playwrights Horizons is THE FLICK, the World Premiere of a new play by Obie Award winner Annie Baker, directed by Obie Award winner Sam Gold (February 15-March 31 at Playwrights Horizons Mainstage Theater). Following THE FLICK and THE CALL, the Playwrights Horizons' 2012/2013 Season will conclude with the World Premiere of a new musical FAR FROM HEAVEN (May - June 2013 at Playwrights Horizons Mainstage Theater). Featuring a book by Tony Award winner & two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist Richard Greenberg, music by Tony Award nominee Scott Frankel, lyrics by Tony Award nominee Michael Korie and directed by three-time Tony Award nominee Michael Greif, the production features four-time Tony Award nominee Kelli O'Hara. The musical is based on the Focus Features / Vulcan Productions motion picture Far From Heaven, written and directed by Todd Haynes.

Membership packages available for Playwrights Horizons' 2012/2013 season include 30&Under Membership ($20 membership fee + one $20 ticket for each show, as desired); and Student Membership ($10 membership fee + one $10 ticket for each show, as desired). In addition to discounts on all season attractions, members receive priority booking and seating, ticket exchange privileges, parking and dining discounts, and exclusive mailings of Playwrights Horizons Bulletins. Packages are available at www.TicketCentral.com.

Primary Stages concludes its 28th Season with THE CALL, as well as the currently running 20th anniversary revival of ALL IN THE TIMING by David Ives and directed by Tony Award winner John Rando (through March 17 at Primary Stages at 59E59 Theaters). Primary Stages recently announced the first three plays of their 2013/2014 season: The New York Premiere of HARBOR by Tony Award nominee Chad Beguelin, directed by Tony Award nominee Mark Lamos (July - September 2013 at Primary Stages at 59E59 Theaters); THE YANKEES**, a World Premiere of a new play conceived by Fran Kirmser and written and directed by Tony Award nominee Eric Simonson (September - October 2013 at The Duke on 42nd Street); and a World Premiere comedy written by and starring Tony Award nominee Charles Busch and directed by Carl Andress (January - March 2014 at Primary Stages at 59E59 Theaters). The fourth production in the Primary Stages 2013/2014 Season will be announced soon.