Ben Stiller and Jeffrey Wright to Star in Premiere of This is How it Goes at Public Theater

The Public Theater, George C. Wolfe, producer; Mara Manus, executive director, announce that Ben Stiller and Jeffrey Wright will be starring in the world premiere THIS IS HOW IT GOES, written by Neil LaBute and directed by George C. Wolfe. Previews begin Tuesday, March 8th in The Public Theater's Anspacher Theater.

Neil LaBute turns his savage observer's eye to small town America, where an interracial love triangle sets off a fierce drama of manipulation, exploitation, infidelity, and passion. The author of FAT PIG, THE SHAPE OF THINGS, and IN THE COMPANY OF MEN brings to The Public's stage a passionate drama that is filled with twists and turns.

Ben Stiller. An actor, director, producer and writer, Stiller continues to imprint his unique comedic and dramatic perspective on film, television and stage. He made his professional acting debut on Broadway in 1985 starring opposite John Mahoney in John Guare's THE HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES. In addition to starring in the recent blockbuster comedy MEET THE FOCKERS, Stiller has appeared in such films as DODGEBALL, STARSKY & HUTCH, ALONG CAME POLLY, ZOOLANDER, MEET THE PARENTS, THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS, KEEPING THE FAITH, THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY, PERMANENT MIDNIGHT, MYSTERY MEN, and Neil LaBute's YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS.

Jeffrey Wright received a Golden Globe® Award for his performance as Belize in HBO's ANGELS IN AMERICA, also receiving a Tony Award for the same role in the Broadway production, directed by George C. Wolfe. He garnered critical acclaim in TOPDOG/UNDERDOG, for which he was nominated for a Tony Award, and BRING IN 'DA NOISE, BRING IN 'DA FUNK, both directed by Wolfe. Wright's film credits include THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE, BOYCOTT, ALI, SHAFT, RIDE WITH THE DEVIL, CRITICAL CARE, JUMPIN' AT THE BONEYARD, FAITHFUL, BEYOND BELIEF and BASQUIAT, which earned him an Independent Spirit Award nomination for his debut performance in the title role.

Tickets for THIS IS HOW IT GOES, which are $50, will be on sale beginning February 18th at The Public Theater box office, 425 Lafayette Street; on-line at www.publictheater.org; and via Tele-charge.com, 212-239-6200. Box office hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 1:00pm to 7:30pm, and Sunday and Monday from 1:00pm to 6:00pm.

The New York Community Trust - LuEsther T. Mertz Advised Fund provides leadership support for The Public Theater's year-round activities. Additional generous support is provided by Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman, JPMorgan Chase, The Laura Pels Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, Ken Lerer and Katherine Sailer, Carole Shorenstein Hays, The George Delacorte Fund at The New York Community Trust - Fund for Performances at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. Donald E. Newhouse, Warren Spector and Margaret Whitton, The Starr Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. George W. Haywood, and the Booth Ferris Foundation. Public support is provided by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency. We are also deeply grateful to The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation for its leadership commitment to The Public Theater's Endowment Fund in support of new work. Continental Airlines is the official airline of The Public Theater.

Founded by Joseph Papp as the Shakespeare Workshop and now one of the nation's preeminent cultural institutions, The Public is an American theater in which all the country's voices, rhythms, and cultures converge. Under the leadership of Producer George C. Wolfe and Executive Director Mara Manus, The Public's mandate to create a theater for all New Yorkers continues to this day on stage and through its extensive outreach and education programs. Over 250,000 people annually attend Public Theater-related events at its six downtown stages including Joe's Pub, and at Shakespeare in Central Park and Joe's Pub in the Park.