Doug Hughes (Doubt) directs the New York premiere production which began previews Sept. 13 at the American Airlines Theatre for a limited engagement through Dec. 4.
A Naked Girl on the Appian Way follows the chain reaction of revelations unearthed in a neighborhood when two siblings return to their American home following a year-long excursion in Europe. A successful author/cooking-show host (Jill Clayburgh) and a socially inept, eccentric genius (Richard Thomas) are the parents of the play's family. (The title refers to an ancient road built by the Romans, parts of which still exist today.)
Clayburgh and Thomas lead the cast, which also includes Matthew Morrison (The Light in the Piazza), Susan Kelechi Watson (The Story), James Yaegashi (Take Me Out), Leslie Ayvazian (Lost In Yonkers) and Ann Guilbert (Billy Barnes Revue, "The Nanny," "The Dick Van Dyke Show").
Clayburgh returns to Broadway for the first time since 1985's Design For Living. The two-time Academy Award-nominated actress (for "Starting Over" and "An Unmarried Woman") has also appeared on Broadway in Jumpers, Pippin, The Rothschilds and The Sudden and Accidental Re-Education of Horse Johnson. The wife of playwright David Rabe (Hurlyburly) will mark her return to the stage with a followup role (as Mrs. Banks) in the upcoming Broadway revival of Barefoot in the Park.
Thomas, busy of late with As You Like It and Democracy, made his Broadway debut at the age of seven in Sunrise at Campobello. The actor grew to become known for his Emmy Award-winning turn as John-Boy in "The Waltons." Other stage credits include The Stendahl Syndrome, Tiny Alice, Love Letters, The Front Page, Fifth of July and The Seagull. Hughes — who was just honored with the Tony Award for his direction of Doubt — staged the Roundabout's recent Off-Broadway show, Jon Robin Baitz's The Paris Letter as well as the Laura Pels Theatre's previous tenant, Stephen Belber's McReele. The director of last year's Frozen will also reteam with the non profit on its Broadway revival of Eugene O'Neill's A Touch of the Poet.
A Naked Girl marks the first of a series of Greenberg plays to see the New York stage this season. The playwright last represented on Broadway with his Tony Award-winning Take Me Out and The Violet Hour will see his Three Days of Rain revived on Broadway starring Julia Roberts in March 2006. Hughes will direct his new The House in Town Off-Broadway in 2006 for Lincoln Center Theater. Other new works being unveiled include Bal Masque at Washington D.C.'s Theater J and The Well-Appointed Room at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre Company. London's West End expects a revival of his The American Plan this fall.
Tickets to Naked Girl at the American Airlines Theatre, 227 West 42 Street are available by calling (212) 719-1300. For more information, visit www.roundabouttheatre.org.
