Mercedes Ruehl is Albee's 'Occupant' Star at Signature

Signature Theatre Company announces that Tony and Academy Award-winning actress Mercedes Ruehl will appear in the world premiere of Edward Albee's Occupant directed by Pam MacKinnon.  Mr. Albee was Signature's 1993-1994 Playwright-in-Residence.  Edward Albee's Occupant begins performances on May 6, 2008 and continues through June 29 at The Peter Norton Space located at 555 West 42nd Street (between 10th and 11th Avenues).  Opening Night is May 29.

Signature Theatre Company caps off its 2007-2008 season with a Legacy Production as part of its Signature Series, in which former Playwrights-in-Residence return to revisit their landmark works.  Originally produced at Signature in 2002 in a limited engagement, "Edward Albee's Occupant is a portrait of acclaimed sculptor Louise Nevelson and a quest to capture a charismatic and complex artist and persona.  What is the relationship between creator and creation?  Who was Louise Nevelson?  Only she knew," state press notes.

Additional casting and creative team information for Edward Albee's Occupant will be announced at a later date.  Tickets will go on sale in early March.

Through The Signature Ticket Initiative, which seeks to make great theatre accessible to the broadest possible audience, all regularly-priced single tickets ($65) are available for $20 during the regular runs of each production for the entire season and continues through Signature's 20th Anniversary Season (2010-2011).  Visit www.signaturetheatre.org for tickets and information.

Mercedes Ruehl (Louise Nevelson) last appeared on the New York stage in Edward Albee's The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? (Drama Desk Award, Tony Award nomination).  Her other stage credits include The Marriage of Bette and Boo (OBIE Award), Lost in Yonkers (Tony Award), the one-woman play Woman Before a Glass (OBIE Award), and Viva la Vida! (Bay Street Theatre).  Her many film credits include The Fisher King (Academy Award, Golden Globe Award), Married to the Mob, Big, Last Action Hero, What's Cookin', More Dogs Than Bones, Another You, Heartburn, The Warriors, Four Friends, Radio Days, 84 Charing Cross Road, Leader of the Band, The Secret of My Success, Slaves of New York, and Crazy People.  Her television credits include "A Girl Like Me," "Mom at Sixteen" (both on Lifetime), "Bad Apple" (TNT), "Guilty by Association" (Court TV), "Widows"(ABC), "Mary Kay Letourneau: The All American Girl" (USA); the HBO original movies "Gia," "Subway Stories: Tales from the Underground," and "Indictment: The McMartin Trial;" as well as a recurring guest role as station manager Kate Costas on "Frasier."