Perez and Chamberlin to Star in Roundabout's 'Ritz'

Roundabout Theatre Company will present present a new Broadway production of Terrence McNally's comedy The Ritz, starring Rosie Perez (Googie Gomez) and Kevin Chamberlin (Gaetano Proclo) and directed by Joe Mantello at Studio 54 on Broadway (254 West 54th St). 

The Ritz will begin previews on Friday, September 14th, 2007 and opens on Thursday, October 11th, 2007 at Studio 54 on Broadway (254 West 54th St).  This is a limited engagement through December 2nd, 2007.

The design team includes Scott Pask (Sets) and William Ivey Long (Costumes).  Additional cast members and designers will be announced shortly.

The Ritz is "an over-the-top comedy that takes place in a bathhouse in Manhattan. When Gaetano Proclo needs to hide from mobster Carmine Vespucci, he escapes to the Ritz. When GaeTano Realizes the Ritz is a gay bathhouse and not a Turkish bath, he pretends to be a big-time Broadway producer to keep suspicions low. When Carmine locates Gaetano what transpires is wild, manic mayhem," as described in press materials.

Joe Mantello, who is an associate artist at Roundabout Theatre Company, returns to Roundabout, and Studio 54, after winning a Tony-Award for staging the 2004 Tony-winning production of Assassins.  He also directed Noël Coward's Design for Living in the 2000-2001 season.

The Ritz premiered on Broadway in 1975 at the Longacre Theatre.  In 1976, the play was made into a feature film starring Jack Weston, Rita Moreno (who won a Tony for her Broadway performance in the play) and Jerry Stiller.

Perez last appeared on Broadway in Reckless.  She was nominated for a Golden Globe and Academy Award for her role in Fearless.  Her film credits include Human Nature, King of the Jungle, Riding in Cars With Boys, Do the Right Thing, White Men Can't Jump, Untamed Heart, It Could Happen to You, and Somebody to Love.  On stage, Perez has also starred in Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune and References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot (which garnered her a Theatre World Award), The Vagina Monologues and A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Chamberlin was recently seen in the Encores! review Stairway to Paradise. He has starred on Broadway in Seussical as Horton the Elephant (Tony, Drama Desk, Drama League nominations), Chicago, Dirty Blonde, My Favorite Year, Abe Lincoln in Illinois and Triumph of Love.  Off-Broadway credits include the Stephen Sondheim/John Weidman musical workshop Wise Guys, directed by Sam Mendes at New York Theatre Workshop; Smoke on the Mountain at the Lamb's Theatre; and Juno at the Vineyard.  Film credits include The Road to Perdition, Die Hard: With a Vengeance, In and Out; Trick; Letters From a Killer and Herman USA.

The Ritz will play Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 8:00PM with a Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday matinee at 2:00PM.  Ticket prices range from $36.25 - $96.25.  Tickets will be available July 2007 by calling Roundabout Ticket Services at (212) 719-1300, online at www.roundabouttheatre.org or at the Studio 54 Box Office (254 West 54th Street). 

Photo by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.