Mark Lamos will direct the work in which Gurney looks back at a young version of himself and his encounter with stage actress Katharine Cornell. The Grand Manner will now begin previews at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater June 1 (rather than the previously announced May 27) and officially open Off-Broadway June 24.

Steggert (Yank!, Ragtime) will star as Gurney's younger self, with three-time Tony nominee Burton (Hedda Gabler, The Constant Wife) as Cornell. Gaines (Gypsy, Journey's End) will portray Cornell's husband, director Guthrie McClintic, and Wehle (Pygmalian, Stuff Happens) as Gert Macy, Cornell's general manager.

Here's how LCT bills the work: "In 1948 playwright A.R. Gurney, then a young boarding school student, traveled to New York where he attended a performance of Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra, going backstage afterwards to meet the production’s star, the great stage actress Katharine Cornell, who was dubbed 'The First Lady of the American Stage' by the legendary critic Alexander Woollcott. A mix of remembrance and imagination, The Grand Manner is a love letter to this fabled actress and a heartfelt look back at the glorious heyday of the Broadway theater."

The production will have set design by John Arnone, costume design by Ann Hould-Ward, lighting design by Russell H. Champa and original music and sound design by John Gromada.

	Kate Burton
	photo by Eric Antoniou

Director Mark Lamos previously collaborated with Gurney on his 2004 play Big Bill, which also played LCT's Newhouse. He has also staged the LCT productions of Cymbeline, Seascape, Measure for Measure and The Rivals. Lamos has directed the Broadway productions of Our Country's Good, The Gershwins' Fascinating Rhythm and The Deep Blue Sea.

For further information visit LCT.