John Cullum to Join Klugman in Values of Names in NJ

George Street Playhouse announced today that two-time Tony Award winner John Cullum will join the cast of Jeffrey Sweet's The Value of Names, to be presented at the Playhouse as part of their 2006-07 season.

He will be join Emmy Award-winner Jack Klugman (Gypsy, The Odd Couple). Directed by James Glossman, Klugman will portray Benny, a comic whose career was derailed by the blacklist of the McCarthy era. Cullum will portray Leo, his former best friend, who betrayed him. The play will run from November 14 through December 17, 2006.

"I am so thrilled to be welcoming John back to George Street," said Artistic Director David Saint. "I had the pleasure of working with him in Ancestral Voices here in 2000, and have been looking for a way to bring him back. To have not one, but two, theatrical legends on our stage is an honor. "

"The Value of Names tells the story of three people: Benny, a retired comic, Norma, his daughter and Leo, Benny's former best friend who turned him over to the House Un-American Activities Committee in the 50's. Benny's daughter is now an actress, and circumstances occur which give Benny the opportunity to confront his once beloved friend face to face," state press notes.

Cullum two-time Tony winner for Shenandoah and On the Twentieth Century, while he has also been seen on Broadway in Urinetown (Tony nomination), Camelot, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (Tony nomination), Boys in Autumn, Hamlet (with Richard Burton), 1776, All My Sons, Show Boat, and many more. Other theatre credits include Old Money, Candide (City Opera), Sin: A Cardinal Deposed, Rose's Dilemma, and Mr. Peters' Connection (London). His TV roles include a five-season run of Holling the Bartender on "Northern Exposure," Mark Greene's father on "ER," "Law & Order: SVU," "Touched By an Angel," "Inherit the Wind" (George C. Scott, Jack Lemmon). Film work includes The Secret Life of Algernon, 1776, Sweet Country, and Hawaii.

"Founded in 1974, the George Street Playhouse has been well represented by numerous productions both on and off-Broadway – recent productions include Anne Meara's Down the Garden Paths, the Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk and Drama League nominated production of The Spitfire Grill and the recent Broadway hit and Tony® and Pulitzer Prize winning play Proof by David Auburn, which was developed at GSP during the 1999 Next Stage Series of new plays. In addition to its mainstage season, GSP's Touring Theatre features five issue-oriented productions that tour to more than 250 schools in the tri-state area, and are seen by more than 80,000 students annually," state prss notes.

Flexible admission packages, ranging from three to a full five-play series, are currently available. Single tickets priced from $36-$64 will be available beginning in early September. For further information, contact the George Street Playhouse Box Office at 732-246-7717 or shop online at www.GSPonline.org. George Street Playhouse is located at 9 Livingston Avenue, in the heart of New Brunswick's Dining and Entertainment district.