Cohen in Ma-Yi Theater's 'Children of Vonderly,' Opens 10/4

Off-Broadway's Award-winning Ma-Yi Theater Company begins its 19th Season with the world premiere of a new play by Lloyd Suh The Children of Vonderly, directed by Ralph B. Peña.  Off-Broadway Previews begin Saturday, September 22 at East 13th Street Theatre (136 East 13th Street).

The Children of Vonderly stars Lynn Cohen, who portrayed Golda Meir in Steven Spielberg's Oscar-nominated film Munich and will reprise her role of Magda in the upcoming "Sex and the City" movie.  Joining Cohen are Jackie Chung, Graeme Gillis, William Jackson Harper, Stephen Jutras, Hoon Lee, Shawn Randall, and Maureen Sebastian.

"There's never a dull moment in the Vonderly household. Led by Norma (Cohen), a headstrong Jewish matriarch, this unconventional multi-ethnic family of adopted and disabled children band together after a crisis threatens to rip them apart. Bound by his wheelchair and burdened by family obligations, oldest brother Jerry Vonderly (William Jackson Harper) looks for ways to balance his mother's outlandish expectations and his own dreams of a 'normal' life outside the family's anything-but-traditional home in Indianapolis, Indiana," explain press notes.

The design team includes Sarah Lambert (set), Maiko Matsushima (costumes), Josh Bradford (lighting) and Fabian Obispo (sound).

Lloyd Suh is the author of American Hwangap (NYSCA Grant, Lark BareBones), The Garden Variety (South Coast Repertory commission), and Masha No Home (first produced at Ensemble Studio Theatre; West Coast Premiere at East West Players).

Ma-Yi Theater Company produces on an Off-Broadway contract.  Ma-Yi Theater Company, the leading company in the US devoted to presenting new work about Asian-American experiences, opens its 19th season with The Children of Vonderly. Ma-Yi Theater Company concluded its 2006-07 season with the Off-Broadway premiere of Keo Woolfood's I Land and an Off-Broadway revival of Lonnie Carter's Obie Award-winning The Romance of Magno Rubio, both presented as part of the first-ever National Asian American Theater Festival, which Ma-Yi spearheaded with NAATCO and Pan Asian Repertory, in New York City this past June.

The Children of Vonderly runs September 22 through October 21 at The East 13th Street Theatre (136 East 13th Street). Monday and Wednesday – Saturday at 8PM; Saturday and Sunday at 3PM, with the following exception: Opening Night, Thursday, October 4 at 7PM.

Tickets are $20 during previews; $38 after October 3; students $20/$20; seniors $20/$34. Group discounts are available. For tickets, call www.TheaterMania.com at 212-352-3101 or online at www.ma-yitheatre.org.