Arnie Burton, Carson Elrod and More Set for MTC's THE EXPLORERS CLUB

Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director), Barry Grove (Executive Producer), and Mandy Greenfield (Artistic Producer) have just announced full casting for the world premiere of THE EXPLORERS CLUB, the new play by Tony Award nominee Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde), directed by Marc Bruni (Old Jews Telling Jokes).

The cast of THE EXPLORERS CLUB features Brian Avers (Rock 'n' Roll), Max Baker (Cyrano DeBergerac), Steven Boyer(Gentlemen Prefer Blondes), Arnie Burton (Peter and the Starcatcher), Carson Elrod (All in the Timing), David Furr (The Importance of Being Earnest), Tony Award nominee John McMartin (Into The Woods), Drama Desk Award winner Lorenzo Pisoni (Humor Abuse at MTC), and Tony Award nominee Jennifer Westfeldt (Friends With Kids, Wonderful Town).

The limited engagement will begin rehearsals tomorrow April 30, begins previews on Tuesday, May 28, and opens Thursday, June 20 at MTC at New York City Center - Stage I (131 West 55th Street).

THE EXPLORERS CLUB is a new madcap comedy from Tony-nominated writer Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde) and directorMarc Bruni (Ordinary Days, Old Jews Telling Jokes) London, 1879. The prestigious Explorers Club faces the worst crisis in their history: their acting president (Lorenzo Pisoni) wants to admit a woman (Jennifer Westfeldt), and their bartender is terrible.

True, the female candidate is brilliant, beautiful, and has discovered a legendary Lost City, but the decision to let in a woman could shake the very foundation of the British Empire, and how do you make such a decision without a decent drink?

Grab your safety goggles for some very mad science involving deadly cobras, irate Irishmen, and the occasional airship.

The creative team for THE EXPLORERS CLUB features: Donyale Werle (scenic design), Anita Yavich (costume design),Philip S. Rosenberg (lighting design), Darron L West (sound design), Laurence O'Keefe (original music), Tom Watson (hair & wig design), Angelina Avallone (makeup design), Thomas Schall (fight director), and Ben Furey (dialect coach).

THE EXPLORERS CLUB is a recipient of an Edgerton Foundation New American Plays Award. Lead support for THE COLUMNIST is provided by MTC's Producing Fund Partner, Andrew Martin-Weber. Production support provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation as part of the MTC/Sloan Science Theatre Initiative.

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 18 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). Since January 2011, Mandy Greenfield (Artistic Producer) has taken the lead in programming and execution at MTC's Off-Broadway home. Renowned MTC productions include 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.'

For more information on MTC, please visit www.ManhattanTheatreClub.com.