MTC's TAKING CARE OF BABY with Margaret Colin Opens Tonight

Manhattan Theatre Club's American premiere of TAKING CARE OF BABY by Tony Award winner Dennis Kelly opens tonight, Tuesday, November 19. Directed by Erica Schmidt (Humor Abuse), the cast features Francois Battiste (Magic/ Bird), Reed Birney (Blasted, Our Leading Lady), Kristen Bush (Kin, The Common Pursuit), Tony nominee Amelia Campbell (A Streetcar Named Desire, Our Country's Good), Margaret Colin (The Columnist, "Gossip Girl"), Michael Crane (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson off-Broadway), Ethan Phillips (Golden Age) and Zach Shaffer ("Smash").

This five week limited engagement of TAKING CARE OF BABY is presented as part of The Studio at Stage II - Harold and Mimi Steinberg New Play Series at New York City Center - Stage II (131 West 55th Street). Previews began Tuesday, November 5.

In order to ensure that tickets to TAKING CARE OF BABY are affordable to the widest possible, most diverse audiences, MTC is pricing all tickets during the initial five-week run at $30. Tickets are currently on sale via CityTix (212-581-1212), www.nycitycenter.org and at the New York City Center Box Office (131 West 55th Street).

For additional details on TAKING CARE OF BABY and offers to all MTC shows, please sign up for MTC's "30 Under 30" program for theatergoers age 30 and under https://www.manhattantheatreclub.com/30under30/.

An unspeakable tragedy. A shattered family. An accusation of murder. TAKING CARE OF BABY, is a provocative new drama that boldly explores the elusive nature of truth and the depths we'll go to expose it.

The creative team includes Laura Jellinek (scenic design), Jessica Pabst (costume design), David Weiner (lighting design), and Fitz Patton (sound design).

Under the leadership of Artistic Director Lynne Meadow and Executive Producer Barry Grove, MTC has become one of the country's most prominent and prestigious theatre companies. Over the past three decades, MTC productions have earned a total of 19 Tony Awards and six Pulitzer Prizes, an accomplishment unparalleled by a New York theatrical institution. MTC has a Broadway home at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street) and two Off-Broadway theatres at New York City Center (131 West 55th Street). Mandy Greenfield (Artistic Producer) leads programming and execution at MTC's Off-Broadway home. Renowned MTC productions include Choir Boy; Murder Ballad; The Assembled Parties; Venus in Fur; Master Class; Good People; The Whipping Man; Time Stands Still; The Royal Family; Ruined; The American Plan; Come Back, Little Sheba; Blackbird; Translations; Shining City; Rabbit Hole; Doubt; Proof; The Tale of the Allergist's Wife; Love! Valour! Compassion!; A Small Family Business; Sylvia; Putting It Together; Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune; Crimes of the Heart; and Ain't Misbehavin.'

The Studio at Stage II is Manhattan Theatre Club's new initiative, under the leadership of Mandy Greenfield, at New York City Center - Stage II (131 West 55th Street). The initiative launched last season with the sold out, critically acclaimed world premiere of MURDER BALLAD the new rock musical by Julia Jordan and Juliana Nash and continued this summer with the critically acclaimed American premiere of CHOIR BOY, a play with music by Tarell Alvin McCraney. As part of The Studio at Stage II, MTC and Ars Nova (Jason Eagan, Artistic Director; Jeremy Blocker, Managing Director) have partnered to launch The Writer's Room a program to commission, develop, and support playwrights in the process of creating new work for the stage. Commissioned writers for 2012-2013 are Adam Bock (A Small Fire) and Justin Levine (Bonfire Night) collaborating on the creation of a new musical; Thomas Bradshaw (Job); Samuel D. Hunter (The Whale); and Sharyn Rothstein (The Invested).

The Studio at Stage II has been partially underwritten with a major grant from The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust.

Tickets for TAKING CARE OF BABY are available at the New York City Center Box Office (131 West 55th Street), CityTix (212-581-1212), and www.nycitycenter.org. In order to ensure that tickets to TAKING CARE OF BABY are affordable to the widest possible, most diverse audiences, MTC is pricing tickets at $30 for the initial run of the show.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

· TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19 - SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24: Tuesday through Sunday at 7:30 PM. Matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 PM. Please note that tickets will not be on sale to the general public on Tuesday, November 19 (opening night).

· MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25 - SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1 (THANKSGIVING WEEK): Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30 PM. Matinees on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday at 2:30 PM. There will be no performance on Thursday, November 28 due to Thanksgiving holiday.

· MONDAY, DECEMBER 2 - SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8: Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 PM. Matinees on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday at 2:30 PM.