Brandon Espinoza will assume the role of Billy in the off-Broadway production of Lucy Thurber's Scarcity, beginning October 2. He replaces Jesse Eisenberg, who departs to begin work on director Greg Mottola's feature film Adventureland. Directed by Jackson Gay, Scarcity began previews August 29, opened September 20 and has been extended through October 21 at the Atlantic Theater Company's Linda Gross Theater.
Espinoza has appeared in the Broadway productions of Gypsy, Big, Les Misérables and The Will Rogers Follies. His off-Broadway credits include Not Waving at New York Summer Play Festival, Tea and Sympathy at Keen Company and Captains Courageous at Manhattan Theatre Club.
Set in rural western Massachusetts, Scarcity tells the tale of two siblings whose aspirations to escape the confines of poverty and small town life come into direct conflict with their sense of responsibility to their parents Johnston and Weiss. When 16-year-old Billy Espinoza is afforded an opportunity to change schools and move out of town by an unusually attentive young teacher Kiley, his family starts to unravel around him.
Scarcity also stars Kristen Johnston, Maggie Kiley, Todd Weeks, Meredith Brandt, Miriam Shor and Michael T. Weiss.
