The earlier play focused on a visual artist — a painter. In Brooklyn Boy, a world premiere co-production between South Coast Repertory and Manhattan Theatre Club at Broadway's Biltmore Theatre, Eric Weiss (played by Adam Arkin) is a novelist "who has finally hit the big time after years of hard work," according to MTC, which previously produced Sight Unseen twice: Off-Broadway in 1991-92 and on Broadway in 2004.
After years of hard work, Weiss has a novel that is "primed for Hollywood adaptation." The Margulies "but" is this: "But has success changed him? Does where we're from affect who we become?"
The play is set in New York City and Los Angeles.
The cast of the 2005 Broadway staging largely mirrors the company that appeared in the co-production's world premiere at South Coast Rep in fall 2004. Daniel Sullivan directs Arkin, Polly Draper, Ari Graynor, Arye Gross, Kevin Isola, Mimi Lieber and Allan Miller. As previously reported, Polly Draper replaces Dana Reeve, who withdrew for personal reasons; she is the widow of Christopher Reeve.
Opening is set for Feb. 3 at the Biltmore, Manhattan Theatre Club's home on Broadway. Pulitzer Prize winner Donald Margulies (Dinner With Friends, Collected Stories) and Tony Award-winner Daniel Sullivan (Proof) most recently collaborated on Manhattan Theatre Club's revival of Sight Unseen in spring 2004.
The creative team for Brooklyn Boy includes Ralph Funicello (sets), Jess Goldstein (costumes), Chris Parry (lighting) and Michael Roth (music and sound).
Margulies is a Brooklyn boy himself. He was born there in 1954. His father worked in a wallpaper shop. The playwright's works include the Pulitzer-winner, Dinner With Friends, as well as What's Wrong With This Picture?, Found a Peanut, The Model Apartment, God of Vengeance, Collected Stories and The Loman Family Picnic, among others.
The Biltmore Theatre is at 261 W. 47th Street.
Tickets are $26-$79 and are available by calling TeleCharge.com at (212) 239-6200 or at the Biltmore Theatre box office.
For more information, visit www.manhattantheatreclub.com.
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Brooklyn Boy was commissioned by South Coast Repertory.