Casting Announced for off-Bway's Einstein's Gift

By: Aug. 15, 2005
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Casting has been announced for the upcoming off-Broadway production of Vern Thiessen's Einstein's Gift.  With Shawn Elliott as the iconic scientist, the show will open on October 6th after beginning performances on October 1st at the Acorn Theatre (410 West 42nd Street); it will run through November 6th.

Joining Elliott in Einstein's Gift will be Aasif Mandvi (who will play 'Dr. Fritz Haber', the prize-winning German chemist), as well as James Wallert, Melissa Friedman (both starred in Hannah & Martin), Sarah Winkler, Glenn Flesher, Godfrey L. Simmons, Jr., and Nilaja Sun (Blues for a Gray Son).

Directed by Ron Russell (Hannah & Martin), Einstein's Gift is the winner of the 2003 Governor General Award for Drama ("The Canadian Pulitzer").  "The play centers on the relationship between Albert Einstein and Friedrich Haber, two world famous scientists who shared little in common, but each witnessed their great discoveries used for massive destruction," according to production notes.   The show will coincide with the centennial celebration of Einstein's "Miracle Year" and the 50th anniversary of his death.

Elliot (who is married to Donna Murphy) has appeared on Broadway in Marie Christine and City of Angels, and on television as Judge Joe Rivera on "Law and Order."  His film credits include 13 Conversations About One Thing, Double Take, Impulse, Do the Right Thing and Short Eyes.  Mandvi is currently starring in Tom Stoppard's On the Razzle at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, and has appeared in Sakina's Restaurant (Obie Award), Guantanamo and Homebody/Kabul in New York.  As a film actor, he has been seen in Spider Man 2, Analyze This, The Siege, and Die Hard 3; he will also star on an upcoming TV series called "The Bedford Diaries."

The Canadian Thiessen's other plays include Shakespeare's Will, Apple, Blowfish, and The Resurrection of John Frum.  He wrote the screenplay for the award-winning short, Samurai Swing, appeared at numerous film festivals and on CBC Television, and is the former President of the Playwrights Guild of Canada.

"Epic Theatre Center is the New York-based, Obie Award-winning company dedicated to nurturing civic-minded artists and audiences.  The company's first official day of operation was September 11, 2001, but rather than be deterred by world events, Epic's founders were further galvanized to create a company that embraces theatre as a way to empower diverse voices and inspire social change.  Epic's highly innovative education programs in public schools throughout New York and the Northeast, as well as their efforts to bring first-time theatergoers to their Off-Broadway productions and new play workshops have garnered the company its most rapid acclaim.  In addition, last spring's sold-out premiere of Kate Fodor's acclaimed Hannah & Martin (starring David Strathairn), among numerous other productions, has elevated Epic's profile among the more traditional Off-Broadway audience."

The performance schedule for Einstein's Gift is as follows: Tuesday-Saturday at 8 p.m; with matinees on Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.  Special student matinees at 2 p.m. are scheduled for the following dates: 10/11-12; 10/20; 10/27; 11/3.  For tickets, Call TicketCentral (212) 279-4200 or visit Ticketcentral.com.

For more information about Epic Theatre, visit www.epictheatrectr.org.



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