Michael Cumpsty & Michael Crane Lead THE BODY OF AN AMERICAN, Opening Tonight Off-Broadway

Primary Stages and Rhoda R. Herrick in association with Hartford Stage, presents THE BODY OF AN AMERICAN, a New York premiere by Dan O'Brien (The Voyage of the Carcass, Soho Playhouse) and directed by Jo Bonney (Father Comes Home from the Wars..., Lost Girls).

Featuring Michael Crane (Gloria, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson) and Tony Award nominee Michael Cumpsty ("Boardwalk Empire," Machinal, End of the Rainbow, 42nd Street), the limited engagement runs now through March 20, 2016 at Primary Stages at the Cherry Lane Theatre. Opening night is tonight, February 23 at 8PM.

Winner of the 2014 Horton Foote Prize for Outstanding New American Play and the Inaugural Edward M. Kennedy Award (shared with All The Way), THE BODY OF AN AMERICAN tells the true story of an extraordinary friendship as two men, a war photojournalist and playwright, journey from some of the most dangerous places on earth to the depths of the human soul.

THE BODY OF AN AMERICAN features scenic design by Richard Hoover, costume design by Ilona Somogyi, lighting design by Lap Chi Chu, sound design by Darron L West, and projection design by Alex Basco Koch.

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced awards totaling more than $27.6 million in its first funding round of fiscal year 2016, including an Art Works award of $30,000 for this production of THE BODY OF AN AMERICAN. The Art Works category supports the creation of work and presentation of both new and existing work, lifelong learning in the arts, and public engagement with the arts through 13 arts disciplines or fields.

"Dan O'Brien's play is a haunting journey into the mindset of war and journalism," says Primary Stages Artistic Director Andrew Leynse. "Based on his true-life experience of traveling to the arctic to interview Pulitzer-winning photojournalist Paul Watson, Dan's writing blends poetry and theatricality that comes all together to pack a punch - a fresh and distinctive voice in today's theatrical landscape."

THE BODY OF AN AMERICAN plays a limited engagement now through March 20, 2016 at Primary Stages at the Cherry Lane Theatre (38 Commerce Street, www.cherrylanetheatre.org.) Opening night is tonight, February 23 at 8PM. Performances are Tuesday - Friday at 8PM; Saturday at 2 and 8PM; Sun 3PM. There is an added 2PM performance on Wednesday, March 9, with no evening performance on that date. No performances on February 24, March 2, and March 17.

Tickets are $70 and can be purchased online at PrimaryStages.org, by phone via OvationTix at 212.352.3101 or toll-free 866.811.4111 (9AM to 9PM Monday to Friday and 10AM to 6PM Saturday and Sunday), or at the box office. Group Tickets (10+) are $45 each ($35 for student groups) for all performances and available by calling (212) 840-9705, ext. 204. Primary Stages subscriptions are also available with packages starting at $35 per show.

Photo Credit: James Leynse