Eve, Long, Knight et al. Lead LaBute Benefit Readings for MCC, 6/3 - 6/5

MCC Theater (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) announced today that Playwright-in-Residence Neil LaBute's three special benefit staged readings of his previously unseen ‘shorts' series, Filthy Talk for Troubled Times: Scenes of Intolerance, will feature actors Alice Eve, Justin Long and T.R. Knight, with additional cast members to be announced shortly. The readings will take place on Thursday, June 3, Friday, June 4 and Saturday, June 5, 2010, 7:00 p.m., at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC). Proceeds will benefit MCC Theater's Playwrights' Coalition program, free PlayLab reading series, and literary development activities.

"America's reigning misanthrope" (The Village Voice) Neil LaBute gets down and dirty once more in Filthy Talk for Troubled Times. Sex, sexism, bigotry and even "Frank f----n' Sinatra" are all given the one-two punch in this finely fused attack on the degraded rubble we sometimes call American culture. Internationally renowned for his darkly-comic morality plays (Some Girl(s), Fat Pig), and fresh off the Tony Award-nominated Broadway run of Reasons to Be Pretty, Neil LaBute returns to MCC Theater to direct his latest provocation for three benefit performances only. Additional casting information will be forthcoming.

Tickets for the general public, ranging from $39 to $99 may be purchased by visiting www.mcctheater.org or by calling (212) 279-4200. The Thursday, June 3 performance will include an exclusive post-show celebration with members of the company. Specially-priced tickets for this celebration event can be purchased by contacting the MCC Development Department at (212) 727-7722 ext. 233.

As previously announced, another LaBute play, The Break of Noon, directed by Jo Bonney, will open MCC's 25th Anniversary Season this fall. The season will also feature the plays The Other Place, by fast-rising playwright Sharr White, and Side Effects, by Michael Weller, a companion piece to MCC Theater's acclaimed 2008 hit Fifty Words. Season subscriptions are also now on sale and can be purchased by visiting www.mcctheater.org or by calling (212) 279-4200.

MCC Theater is one of New York City's leading Off Broadway theater companies, committed to presenting New York and world premieres each season. When MCC Theater was founded in 1986, its mission was simple: to bring new theatrical voices to theater-going audiences. MCC Theater continues to accomplish this yearly through presentation of its mainstage works; its Literary Program, which actively seeks and develops new and emerging writers; and its Education & Outreach Program, allowing more than 1,200 students yearly to experience theater, increase literacy and discover their own voices in the arts. Notable MCC Theater highlights include: the 2010 Lucille Lortel, Drama League and Drama Desk Award-nominated The Pride by Alexi Kaye Campbell, the 2008 Tony Award-nominated reasons to be pretty by Neil LaBute, last season's Fifty Words, the 2004 Tony-winning production of Bryony Lavery's Frozen; Neil LaBute's Fat Pig; Rebecca Gilman's The Glory of Living; Marsha Norman's Trudy Blue; Margaret Edson's Pulitzer Prize-winning Wit; Tim Blake Nelson's The Grey Zone and Alan Bowne's Beirut. Over the years, the dedication to the work of new and emerging artists has earned MCC Theater a variety of awards.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.

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