By Ernio Hernandez
24 Jul 2007
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| Mahira Kakkar |
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| photo by Aubrey Reuben |
Primary Stages presents the New York premiere of Michael Hollinger's Opus, which centers around a string quartet, July 24.
Terrence J. Nolan — who staged the world premiere in Philadelphia — returns to direct the New York run, which will officially open Aug. 7 at 59E59 Theaters for a limited run through Sept. 1.
From the pen of the playwright of An Empty Plate in the Café du Grand Boeuf, comes this tale that follows "a world-renowned string quartet that struggles to prepare for their highest profile performance when the violist, and founder of the quartet, mysteriously disappears," as an announcement describes. They find a replacement in an inspiring young woman and decide to attempt the more difficult Beethoven's Opus 131.
The five-member company of Opus features David Beach, Mahira Kakkar, Michael Laurence, Doug Rees and Richard Topol.
The work made its world premiere at Philadelphia's Arden Theatre — where it garnered 2006 Barrymore Awards for Outstanding New Play and Outstanding Direction of a Play.
Opus opens the new Primary Stages season of new works by American playwrights. The line-up continues with Horton Foote's Dividing the Estate (Sept. 18-Oct. 27), Brooke Berman's Hunting and Gathering (Jan. 22-March 1, 2008) and Willy Holtzman's Something You Did (March 18-April 26, 2008).
Tickets to Opus at the 59E59 Theatres, 59 East 59th Street, are available by calling (212) 279-4200. For more information, visit primarystages.com.
