Jacobs, a TV sitcom producer-creator who is also the author of Broadway's Cheaters (1978), offers flashbacks to illuminate events in his characters' pasts, giving his stars the chance to play more than just quirky art expert Katharine and recalcitrant National Geographic contributor Thomas.
The cast also features four-time Academy Award nominee Marsha Mason (Steel Magnolias, Night of the Iguana) in multiple roles, Hadley Delany (as the six-year-old Katharine in flashback), and, in multiple roles, Tony nominee André De Shields (The Full Monty, Play On!), Michael T. Weiss (TV's "The Pretender"), Aaron Lazar (Les Misérables, Tale of Two Cities) and Margarita Levieva (making her theatre debut).
Tony Award winner Jack O'Brien (The Coast of Utopia, Hairspray) directs the production, which features vibrant projections of famous works of impressionistic paintings.
The opening night of Impressionism was first scheduled for March 12 and was changed to March 24 to have more time to fully shape the production — a world premiere that didn't have the benefit of a workshop or tryout.
The play is billed as being about an international photojournalist and a New York gallery owner "who discover each other and also that there might be an art to repairing broken lives." The production marks Allen's first return to Broadway since The Heidi Chronicles in 1989, and Irons' first time on Broadway since The Real Thing in 1984.
Impressionism's creative team includes Scott Pask (scenic design), Catherine Zuber (costume design), Natasha Katz (lighting design), Elaine McCarthy (projection design) and Leon Rothenberg (sound design). Original music is by Bob James.
Impressionism is produced by Ostar Productions, Roy Furman, Stephanie P. McClelland, Chase Mishkin, Jamie deRoy, Thomas Murphy, Broadway Across America, Michael Filerman, Eric Falkenstein, Morris Berchard, Matt Murphy/Suisman-Gasparian Philip Geier/Donald R. Keough, Jennifer Manocherian/Wendy Federman, Randall L. Wreghitt, Barbara Freitag/Ergo Entertainment, Max OnStage/Hugh Hysell/Richard Jordan.
The Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre is located at 236 West 45th Street. Tickets are available by visiting www.telecharge.com or by calling (212) 239-6200.
For more information visit www.impressionismtheplay.com.
