Cody (Shrek, The Pajama Game, Urinetown) will take on the role of Naomi, with Busch in the title role. Busch's longtime collaborator Carl Andress (The Divine Sister, Die Mommie Die, The Visit) will direct Judith of Bethulia, which is inspired by the 1914 silent Hollywood Biblical epic.
The cast will also feature the previously announced Tony nominee Mary Testa (Queen of the Mist, Xanadu), Dave August (Naked Boys Singing!), Christopher Borg (Penny Penniworth), Kendal Sparks (Where’s Charley? at Encores!), and frequent Busch stage players Larry Bullock (Charles Busch and Julie Halston: Together on Broadway), Jonathan Walker (The Divine Sister, Dinner With Friends), Jennifer Van Dyck (The Divine Sister, The Third Story) and Billy Wheelan (Our Leading Lady, The Lady in Question is Charles Busch).
Judith of Bethulia is presented as a showcase engagement and will play 24 performances through April 28. Busch's The Divine Sister also played a showcase run at TNC prior to a commercial Off-Broadway run at the SoHo Playhouse. No plans have been announced beyond the initial showcase engagement.
Judith of Bethulia is billed as "an outrageous and bawdy celebration of the Hollywood Biblical epic. Lepers, whores, eunuchs, centurions, evil generals, youthful poets and a beautiful redheaded widow make Charles Busch's latest comedy an event worth praying for."
The production will have scenic and graphic design by B.T. Whitehill, costume design by Jessica Jahn, lighting design by Kirk Bookman, sound design by Jill BC DuBoff and wig design by Katherine Carr. Busch most recently appeared Off-Broadway in his comedy The Divine Sister, which played an extended run at the Soho Playhouse. He also appeared in a staged reading of Matthew Lombardo's Tea at Five as Katherine Hepburn as a benefit for The Ali Forney Center. His play The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, which began life at the Manhattan Theatre Club, later transferred to Broadway and was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play. He wrote the book for the Broadway mounting of Taboo, and he also penned the screenplays for and starred in the films "Die, Mommie, Die" and "Psycho Beach Party." His noted plays include The Lady in Question, Red Scare on Sunset and the long-running Vampire Lesbians of Sodom. Busch's recent Off-Broadway appearances also include The Third Story and Die, Mommie, Die. He made his directorial film debut with "A Very Serious Person."
Tickets, priced $25, are now on sale via Smarttix.com. The Theater for the New City is located at 155 First Avenue.
