Lavin, Glover, Harris, Maxwell & More Set for MTC’s 2009-2010 Season

The Manhattan Theatre Club has announced three upcoming productions for its 2009-2010 theatrical season, including two—revivals of George S. Kaufman & Edna Ferber’s The Royal Family and Donald Margulies’ Collected Stories—to be presented on Broadway at MTC’s Broadway house, the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. Another Margulies work, Time Stand Still, will play at MTC's Stage I off-Broadway theater at New York City Center.

First up at the Friedman is The Royal Family, which will star John Glover, Rosemary Harris, Jan Maxwell and Reg Rogers in Kaufman & Ferber’s classic ‘20s comedy about a family of famous stage stars who have a crisis once word gets out that one of them is leaving the stage for a quiet life at home. Harris, who starred as daughter Julie Cavendish in the play’s last Broadway revival in 1975, will play matron Fanny Cavendish in the new production. Previews will begin on September 15, with an opening set for October 8, directed by Doug Hughes.

MTC's first Stage I off-Broadway production of the season, Margulies' new play Time Stands Still, is the story of James and Sarah, a journalist and photographer who’ve been together for nine years and share a passion for documenting the realities of war. But when injuries force them to return home to New York, the adventurous couple confronts the prospect of something more terrifying: a more conventional life. Previews begin at New York City Center Stage I on October 15, with an opening set for November 3, directed by Daniel Sullivan.

Tony winner Linda Lavin will star in a Broadway revival of Collected Stories at the Friedman Theatre beginning on April 6, 2010, with opening night set for April 28, directed by Lynne Meadow. Lavin will star as Ruth Steiner, a celebrated New York author with a dry wit and a distinguished career, who shares the stage with a bright-eyed young protégé, Lisa Morrison. As their relationship evolves and the line between fact and fiction starts to blur, their fascinating story comes to an explosive conclusion. Lavin, a Tony winner for Broadway Bound, and Meadow collaborated on MTC's hit production of Charles Busch's The Tale of the Allergist's Wife.

In the coming weeks, MTC will announce one more production for the Friedman Theatre and two more productions for New York City Center Stage I, as well as details regarding additional casting and creative teams.