Abigail's Party, Starring Leigh, Extends 4 Weeks at the New Group

By: Dec. 05, 2005
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The New Group's acclaimed production of Mike Leigh's play Abigail's Party, starring Jennifer Jason Leigh, will extend an extra four weeks at the company's Acorn Theatre (Theatre Row, 410 W. 42nd St.) through February 1st, 2006.

The show, which began previews on November 14th and opened on December 1st, was originally to have closed on January 7th. Helmed by New Group artistic director Scott Elliott (who also directed the company's hit production of Hurlyburly), the play is set in 70's London, and is a caustic exploration of suburban middle class lives as a number of neigbors get together at the soirée of the title. In addition to Jason Leigh, Abigail's Party features Max Baker, Lisa Emery, Darren Goldsteinand Elizabeth Jasicki.

Leigh most recently appeared on Broadway in Proof, a performance for which she received strong notices; she had previously starred as Sally Bowles in Cabaret. She has also been seen in Picnic at the Ahmanson Theater and Sunshine at Circle Rep. An accomplished film actress, her credits include Road to Perdition, The Anniversary Party (a colloaboration with Alan Cumming that she co-wrote and co-directed), Washington Square, Kansas City, Georgia, Dolores Claiborne, Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (for which she received the National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress and a Golden Globe nomination for her performance as Dorothy Parker), Single White Female, Miami Blues, Last Exit to Brooklyn, and Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

An Oscar-nominated screenwriter and director as well as playwright, Leigh (who is not related to the actress) is known for an unflinching social realism in his work. His plays include Smelling a Rat, Goose-pimples and Ecstasy, while Vera Drake, All or Nothing, Topsy Turvy and Secrets and Lies are some of his films.

A BBC movie version of Abigail's Party was made in 1977; and the work also received an Olivier nomination for Best Revival of 2002 when it was performed at the New Ambassador's Theatre.

The New Group will follow up Abigail's Party with the world premiere of The Music Teacher, a play-opera by Wallace Shawn with music by Allan Shawn; it will be directed by Tom Cairns. Following that show will be Everything's Turning Into Beautiful by Seth Zvi Rosenfeld; it will star Bobby Cannavale and Annabella Sciorra.

To order tickets to Abigail's Party, call (212) 279-4200. For more information, visit www.thenewgroup.org.
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