The new comedy, which made its world premiere at California's South Coast Repertory (in April 2004), will begin Nov. 1 and open Nov. 20 at the nonprofit's home for new works for a run through Jan. 29, 2006.
Mr. Marmalade follows the lives of two children (as played by adults) who deal with adult issues. Neglected four-year-old Lucy, armed with "a precocious vocabulary" and "killer skills in the kitchen," creates an imaginary world where the titular busy businessman continually promises to spend more time with her.
Greif, who recently directed Spatter Pattern Off-Broadway has also staged Never Gonna Dance and Rent on Broadway. His other credits include Machinal, A Bright Room Called Day, Casanova, Marisol, Pericles, Dogeaters and Fuckin' A — all at the Public Theatre. The former La Jolla Playhouse artistic director also helmed The Distance From Here (MCC), Bright Lights Big City (NYTW), Monster (Classic Stage Company), A Few Stout Individuals (Signature Theatre), Betty Rules (Zipper Theatre) and Cavedweller (NYTW).
Ethan McSweeny (Gore Vidal's The Best Man) directed the SCR cast which included Guilford Adams, Larry Bates, Heidi Dippold, Glenn Fleshler, Eliza Pryor Nagel and Marc Vietor. The world premiere marked the first major production for the new playwright. Director Michael Mayer (You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown) was previously attached to direct the Off-Broadway run.
Haidle was a Lila Acheson Wallace playwright-in-residence at The Juilliard School in New York City and graduated from Princeton University in the spring of 2001. His Princess Marjorie also made its world premiere at SCR. Other works include Kitty Kitty Kitty (inaugural Summer Play Festival) and Rag and Bone (Long Wharf Theatre's New American Voices). The Laura Pels is currently home to Jon Robin Baitz's The Paris Letter through Aug. 7. Since the Roundabout Theatre Company renovated the space as its new Off Broadway home, the West-side underground venue has seen Lynn Nottage's Intimate Apparel, Steven Dietz's Fiction, Larry Pine's The Foreigner and Stephen Belber's McReele — all new works with the exception of the Pine revival.
For more information about the Roundabout, visit www.roundabouttheatre.org .
