Metropolitan Playhouse's ANNA CHRISTIE Begins Previews 11/14

Metropolitan Playhouse presents Anna Christie, by Eugene O’Neill, at the theater (220 E 4th Street) November 14th through December 14th, 2008. Directed by Robert Kalfin, the production features Sam Tsoutsouvas, Jenne Vath, and Roger Clark as Chris, Anna, and Mat.

Anna Christie , one of O’Neill’s earlier full-length plays, is as tender and hopeful a vision as can be found among the fallen angels in the playwright’s bittersweet universe. Anna, the ‘ruined’ daughter come East to find her estranged father finds him both less and more than she hoped, while the love she makes with boiler stoker Mat Burke threatens to destroy all three of their yearning souls. Impassioned and strangely innocent, the central characters of Anna Christie are haunting and profound.

Metropolitan promises an especially affecting production in its intimate downtown home, where each audience of 50 patrons will feel the play’s power up close. The production is directed by Robert Kalfin. Mr. Kalfin’s long career began with the founding of New York’s Chelsea Theatre Center, (winner for its work of 5 Tony Awards, 4 Ton Nominations and 21 Obie Awards.) Director on Broadway and off, across America and Canada, and in Europe, the Middle East and as far abroad as Siberia, his credits include Strider, Happy End (starring Meryl Streep and Christopher Lloyd), and Yentl (starring Tovah Feldshuh.) Most recently for Metropolitan, Mr. Kalfin directed Israel Zangwill’s The Melting Pot in 2006.

Featured in the production is Sam Tsoutsouvas as Chris Christopherson. Mr. Tsoutsouvas, a graduate of Juilliard’s Group I, has a distinguished career includes appearances on Broadway (By Jeeves, directed by Alan Ayckbourn, Our Country’s Good, directed by Mark Lamos); Off-Broadway (CSC, The Public, Signature Thaeter, NY Shakespeare Festival, Playwrights Horizons); and in Regional theaters such as the Shakespeare Theatre, Baltimore Center Stage, Pittsburgh Public Theater, and Trinity Rep. Along with Mr. Tsoutsouvas are,as Anna, Jenne Vath, whose work about New York City includes La Mama’s striking revival of The Tooth of Crime, and widely ranging international actor Roger Clark, making his New York debut as Mat Burke.  Rounding out the cast are Joe Atack, Nick Delany, Ian Campbell Dunn, Zakary Spicer, Rob Sulaver, Karen Christie-Ward, Zachary Spicer, and Rob Sulaver.

Metropolitan Playhouse is New York’s home for American drama, exploring our theatrical heritage and creating new plays of American historical and cultural moment. Hailed by Backstage Magazine as "dedicated to the living examination of American theatre history", Metropolitan has earned accolades fromThe New York Times, The Village Voice, and nytheatre.com for its ongoing mission to produce theater that illuminates who we are by revealing where we have come from. Recent triumphs include Nowadays,Year One of the Empire, The Pioneer: 5 plays by Eugene O’Neill, Denial and The Melting Pot, as well as theAlphabet City and East Village Chronicles series and last year’s Hawthornucopia.

Anna Christie begins five previews on Friday, November 14, and opens Friday, November 21 to run through Sunday, December 14. Show times are Thursdays through Saturdays at 8pm; Saturdays and Sundays at 3pm. Sundays (11/30 and 12/7) at 7:30 pm. There will be a special, Pay-What-You-Will performance on Monday, November 17 at 7:30 pm.

There will be no performance Thanksgiving Day: Thursday, November 27th.

Tickets are $20 for general admission, $15 for seniors and preview performances, $12 Students, $10 for Children under 18. Call 212-995-5302 to purchase tickets, or visit www.metropolitanplayhouse.org for more information.

Previews Begin: Friday, November 14, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Opening Night: Friday, November 21, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Pay What You Will: Monday, November 17 at 7:30 pm
Closing: Sunday, December 14 at 3:00 pm
Performances: Thursdays – Saturdays at 8:00 pm, Sundays at 3:00 pm, Saturdays (11/29, 12/6 &13) at 3:00 pm, Sundays (11/30 & 12/7) at 7:30 pm
No Performance: Thursday, November 27

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