Atlantic Theater Company has announced casting for its forthcoming world premiere production of The New York Idea, David Auburn’s adaptation of the 1906 comedy by Langdon Mitchell. The play will begin previews on January 6, 2011, at the Lucille Lortel Theatre and open on January 26, directed by Mark Brokaw. The limited off-Broadway engagement is set to continue through February 13.
The cast for The New York Idea will include Patricia Conolly (Is He Dead?, Gabriel) as Miss Henage, Michael Countryman (Mary Stuart, A Few Good Men) as Philip Philimore, Francesca Faridany (Orlando, The 39 Steps) as Vida Philimore, Mikaela Feely-Lehmann as Jacqueline, Rick Holmes (Spamalot, The Pillowman) as Wilfred Catees-Darby, John Keating (Measure for Measure) as Fiddler, Peter Maloney (West Side Story, The Voysey Inheritance) as Sudley, Jaime Ray Newman as Cynthia Karslake, Patricia O’Connell (The Cripple of Inishmaan, Waiting in the Wings) as Mrs. Philimore, Jeremy Shamos (Elling, Clybourne Park) as John Karslake, Joey Slotnick (Offices) as Matthew Philimore and Tom Patrick Stephens as Thomas.
The New York Idea centers on Cynthia Karslake (Newman, in her New York stage debut), a freewheeling young divorcee in 1906 New York City society. She has decided to settle down again into a much more stable, reliable relationship with the prominent Judge Philip Philimore (Countryman). Little does she know, however, that neither of their impetuous and unpredictable ex-spouses, nor her beloved race horse Cynthia K is yet down for the count. In this sharp-tongued comedy, David Auburn (winner of the Tony and Pulitzer Prize for Proof) sheds new light on a little-known play from a century ago that offers a surprisingly contemporary look at social mores, status and attitudes about sex and divorce in upper crust New York.
The creative team for The New York Idea includes Allen Moyer (scenic design), Michael Krass (costume design), Mary Louise Geiger (lighting design) and Lewis Flinn (original music).