Starry Messenger, w/ Broderick, Part of MTC '07/8 Season

Manhattan Theatre Club will present the world premiere production of Kenneth Lonergan's The Starry Messenger will be a part of their New York City Center 2007-2008 Season. The production will star two-time Tony Award winner Matthew Broderick and will be directed by Lonergan.

Mark (Broderick) "works at the Hayden Planetarium, teaching Upper West Siders about the mysteries of the galaxy. But when this forty-something married man meets a pretty young single mother, his own solar system begins spinning out of control, forcing him to come to terms with the inertia that is his life. Is it too late to try and re-connect with his wife and son? And how did his middling career get so badly off track? The Starry Messenger is a wise and stirring New York story from one of America's most insightful playwrights. Told with wit and compassion, this world premiere comes from Kenneth Lonergan, the Academy Award-nominated author of You Can Count on Me, as well as the celebrated plays Lobby Hero, The Waverly Gallery and This Is Our Youth," state press notes.

The production will mark longtime friends Lonergan and Broderick's first professional theatrical collaboration. Broderick previously appeared in Lonergan's Academy Award-nominated film You Can Count on Me and will appear in Lonergan's upcoming movie Margaret. The Starry Messenger marks Lonergan's first new play since the 2001 hit Lobby Hero.

Broderick last appeared opposite Nathan Lane in the hit revival of The Odd Couple, and was seen in the film version of The Producers. In the latter, he once again starred opposite Lane and recreated his Tony-nominated performance as Leo Bloom. Broderick's Broadway credits include Taller Than a Dwarf, Night Must Fall and Biloxi Blues. He received a Tony for his role in the 1995 revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and for 1983's Brighton Beach Memoirs. He appeared off-Broadway in The Foreigner, and other off-Broadway credits include The Widow Clare and Torch Song Trilogy. Broderick's other screen credits include The Stepford Wives, the TV movie musical of The Music Man, Torch Song Trilogy, Biloxi Blues, Ferris Bueller's Day Off and The Lion King.

Additional information will be announced in the coming weeks.

Visit www.mtc-nyc.org for more on Manhattan Theatre Club.

Photo by Retna Ltd.