Tunie, Cerveris, Smith, Kind, Etc. to Climb 'an oak tree'

Tamara Tunie ("Law & Order," Julius Caesar), Brooke Smith (Some Girl(s)), Richard Kind (The Producers) and Michael Cerveris (Sweeney Todd) are among the performers set to play "The Father" in the hit Off-Broadway play an oak tree.

Tim Crouch's play, directed by Crouch, Karl James and a smith, is being presented in the US for an extended run.  Presented by the Perry Street Theatre, Rosalie Beer, A.J. Epstein, Richard Jordan Productions in association with Barrow Street Theatre, the show began performances on October 27 and opened Saturday, November 4 at the Barrow Street Theatre (27 Barrow Street).

"an oak tree is the story of two men brought together by loss: a father whose daughter has been killed in a car accident -- and the driver of that car -- a provincial stage hypnotist," state press materials.  "For the father, nothing now is what it was. Since the accident the hypnotists' act is a disaster. For him, everything now is exactly what it is. an oak tree is about the dramatic intertwining of human lives as the man and the hypnotist are reunited for the first time since the accident when the hypnotist inadvertently calls him on stage as a volunteer."

"an oak tree is a remarkable new play for two actors. The Father, however, is played by a different actor - male or female - at each performance. The second actor walks on stage having neither seen nor read a word of the play they're in….until they're in it. This is breath-taking projection of performance, given from one actor to another, from a hypnotist to a subject, from an audience to a person."

Upcoming performers include: Saturday 11/25 – Ray Dooley (5pm) ; Saturday 11/25 – Brooke Smith (9:30); Sunday 11/26 – John Judd (5); Sunday 11/26 – Richard Kind (8); Monday 11/27 – Matt Arkin ; Tuesday 11/28 – Craig Wroe; Friday 12/1 – Michael Cerveris (9:30); Saturday 12/2 – Marin Ireland (5); Saturday 12/2 – Peter Dinklage (9:30); Sunday 12/3 – Tim Blake Nelson (8); Friday 12/8 – Austin Pendleton (9:30).

Others who have played this role include: F. Murray Abraham, Charles Busch, "Queer as Folk's" Randy Harrison, Joan Allen and Frances McDormand. 

Tickets are $45. To purchase tickets please call Telecharge.com at 212-239-6200.  For more information about the Perry Street Theatre Company (Exiled), please visit www.PerryStreetTheatre.com.  an oak tree is running in conjunction with No Child.