Vigil, with Stenborg and Gets, Opens Off-Broadway Sept. 30

By Andrew Gans
30 Sep 2009

Vigil stars Malcolm Gets and Helen Stenborg
Vigil stars Malcolm Gets and Helen Stenborg
Photo by Carol Rosegg

Malcolm Gets, most recently on the New York stage in the short-lived Broadway musical The Story of My Life, joins Tony nominee Helen Stenborg in the new Off-Broadway comedy Vigil, which officially opens Sept. 30 following previews that began Sept. 20 at the DR2 Theatre.

Morris Panych's comedy will play a limited engagement at the Off-Broadway venue through Nov. 22.

Vigil was previously staged at the Westport Country Playhouse in February 2008. Stenborg (Waiting in the Wings, The Crucible) is reprising her performance for New York audiences. Stephen DiMenna, who helmed the Westport engagement, also directs Off-Broadway.

The play, according to press notes, "tells the wickedly funny story of a selfish bank drudge who is tending to the wealthy dying aunt he hasn't seen in 30 years. She, however, isn't going anywhere anytime soon."

Helen Stenborg was Tony-nominated for her work in Waiting in the Wings; her most recent Broadway appearance was the 2002 revival of The Crucible. Stenborg received a 2000 Drama Desk Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Malcolm Gets has appeared in New York in The Story of My Life, Amour (Tony and Drama Desk nominations), The Moliere Comedies, A New Brain, Merrily We Roll Along (Drama Desk nomination and Obie Award), The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Obie Award), Hello Again, Boys and Girls, Polish Joke, Finian's Rainbow, Juno and for Encores!, both The Boys From Syracuse and The Apple Tree. His films include "Thirteen Conversations About One Thing," "Love in the Time of Money," "Adam and Steve," "Sex and the City" and the new HBO film of "Grey Gardens," in which he stars opposite Jessica Lange and Drew Barrymore. He is heard on two recent releases on the PS Classics label: the cast recording of The Story of My Life and the solo album "The Journey Home," on which Melissa Errico guests for one track.

The production features scenic design by Andromache Chalfant, costume design by Ilona Somogyi, lighting design by Ed McCarthy and original music and sound design by Greg Pliska. The production manager is Ricardo Taylor.

The DR2 Theatre is located in Manhattan at 103 East 15th Street. Tickets are $65 and may be purchased by visiting www.telecharge.com or by phoning (212)239-6200. For more information visit www.VigilthePlay.com.