Julie Halston, Mary Bacon & More to Join Charles Busch in THE TRIBUTE ARTIST at Primary Stages

Primary Stages continues their 29th season with The Tribute Artist, a new world premiere comedy written by and starring Tony-nominee Charles Busch (The Divine Sister, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, Olive and the Bitter Herbs). Directed by Busch's long-time collaborator Carl Andress (The Divine Sister, The Third Story), the cast will also feature Mary Bacon (Harrison, TX...; Giant), Cynthia Harris (Lost in Yonkers, "Mad About You"), Julie Halston (Olive and the Bitter Herbs, Anything Goes) Keira Keeley (Angels in America, The Glass Menagerie), and Jonathan Walker (The Assembled Parties, The Divine Sister). The Tribute Artist runs January 21-March 16 at Primary Stages at 59E59 Theaters. Opening night is Sunday, February 9 at 6pm.

Primary Stages welcomes back their favorite farceur Charles Busch, the author of Primary Stages' hits You Should Be So Lucky and Olive and the Bitter Herbs, and Broadway's The Tale of the Allergist's Wife. This new comedy features Mr. Busch himself as an out-of-work female impersonator who, when his elderly landlady dies in her sleep, takes on her identity in order to hang on to her valuable Greenwich Village townhouse. This "perfect" plan goes awry and leads to a wild path of twists and reversals plotted by an eccentric rogues gallery of outrageous schemers. Expect Busch's signature blend of quick-witted banter and gender-bending hijinks in this new play written specifically for Primary Stages from the master of Off-Broadway farce.

The Tribute Artist features a scenic design by Anna Louizos, costume design by Gregory Gale, lighting design by Kirk Bookman, sound design by Jill BC Du Boff, original music by Lewis Flinn, and wig design by Katherine Carr.

"It is always a delight to be working with the ever-resourceful, always surprising Charles Busch on a new play," says Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director, Primary Stages. "The Tribute Artist will be our third production and our second commission with Charles. We are looking forward to a joyful ride."

Tickets may be purchased by calling Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200, online at www.primarystages.org, or in person at the 59E59 Theaters Box Office beginning Friday. November 29. Group Tickets (10+) are $49 each for all performances. Group sales are available by calling (212) 840-9705, ext. 204. Please visit the website at www.primarystages.org, or call (212) 840-9705 for additional information.

Charles Busch (Playwright/Jimmy) is the author and star of such plays as The Divine Sister, Vampire Lesbians of Sodom, and The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, which ran for nearly two years on Broadway and received a Tony nomination for Best Play. He wrote and starred in the film versions of his plays, Psycho Beach Party and Die Mommie Die, the latter of which won him the Best Performance Award at the Sundance Film Festival. In 2003, Mr. Busch received a special Drama Desk Award for career achievement as both performer and playwright. He is also the subject of the acclaimed documentary film The Lady in Question is Charles Busch. Mr. Busch's history with Primary Stages includes the world premieres of his plays You Should Be So Lucky and Olive and the Bitter Herbs.

Carl Andress (Director) Directing credits include: The Divine Sister (Soho Playhouse); Die Mommie Die! (New World Stages); The Third Story (MCC Theater, La Jolla Playhouse); Shanghai Moon (Drama Dept., Bay Street Theater); Judith of Bethulia (Theater for the New City); Bunnicula (TheaterWorks USA); The Cartells (Drama Dept.); The Tale of the Allergist's Wife (Paper Mill Playhouse; Coconut Grove Playhouse); Crush the Infamous Thing (Coconut Grove Playhouse); Rum & Coke (Abingdon Theater Co.); Queen Amarantha (WPA Theater); Times Square Angel (Theater for the New City); Being Comden & Green (Lyrics & Lyricists - 92nd St. Y); Harold & Maude, I Love My Wife, The Mad Show and in 2014 Tenderloin (all for "Musicals in Mufti" - York Theater Co.); numerous galas and special events, including The Valley of the Dolls (Actors Fund); Charles Busch & Julie Halston Together on Broadway (Music Box Theater); the New York concert premieres of Kander, Ebb and McNally's The Visit, (Ambassador Theater) and Harnick and Raposo's A Wonderful Life (Shubert Theater). Carl is also the co-writer and costar of the independent feature, "A Very Serious Person" (Tribeca Film Festival).
Mary Bacon (Christina) Broadway: Rock N' Roll, Arcadia. Theatre: Giant (Public Theatre), Harrison TX (Primary Stages), Becky Shaw (Second Stage), Eccentricities of A Nightingale (TACT/Clurman), Just Like Us (Denver Center), Children (Williamstown Theatre Festival), Misalliance (Old Globe), Triumph of Love (Long Wharf). TV/Film: MildrEd Pierce, The Good Wife, Law & Order: SVU.

Cynthia Harris (Adriana) NY Select Theatre: Lost in Yonkers; Bad Habits; The Cocktail Party; Company; Merry Wives of Windsor (NY Shakespeare). Film: The Distinguished Gentleman; Three Men and a Baby; Isadora. TV: Now and Again; Mad About You (Series Regular); Rescue Me; Law & Order; Edward and Mrs. Simpson (BAFTA nom.); An American Daughter. Co-Artistic Director/Founding Member of TACT.

Julie Halston (Rita) Recent Credits: The Guardsman at The Kennedy Center, The Divine Sister (Drama Desk nomination), and numerous Broadway and Off-Broadway productions. Television: Series Regular on The Class, Bitsy Von Muffling on Sex and The City. Miss Halston has won numerous comedy awards and is seen in Chris Rock's upcoming new film.

Keira Keeley (Oliver/Rachel) Off-Broadway: Angels in America, Part 1 & Part 2, Signature Theatre; The Glass Menagerie, Roundabout Theatre (Theatre World Award); How To Make Friends And Then Kill Them, Rattlestick; The Thugs, Soho Rep. Regional: Proof, Curse of the Starving Class, The Crucible, F2M, Lieutenant of Inishmore. Television: Rubicon. Education: Rollins College. www.keirakeeley.com
Jonathan Walker (Rodney) Broadway: The Assembled Parties, 20th Century, After The Fall. Off-Bway: World Premieres of plays by Richard Greenberg, Donald Margulies, Wendy McCloud, Doug Wright, James Lapine, Peter Parnell, Charles Busch. Film: Man On A Ledge, Michael Clayton, People I Know, Heights, Far From Heaven. TV: "Elementary," "The Good Wife," "The Big C," "Sex and the City," "Chapelle's Show," lots of "Law and Order." Recurring roles - "Zero Hour," "The Carrie Diaries."

Photo by Walter McBride