By Adam Hetrick
04 Nov 2009

A Life in the Theatre star André De Shields
photo by Greg Mooney

The Alliance Theatre production of David Mamet's A Life in the Theatre, starring André De Shields and Ariel Shafir, officially opens in Atlanta Nov. 4.

Robert O'Hara, who is currently represented Off-Broadway with Tarell Alvin McCraney's The Brother/Sister Plays at the Public Theater, stages the Atlanta production that began previews Oct. 28 and will run through Nov. 15 on the Alliance Stage.

De Shields (Archbishop Supreme…, The Wiz, The Full Monty) and Shafir (Scorched, The Underpants) comprise the two-person cast of the play in which "each night during a single season, two actors transform from drama to farce and their relationship from one of friend to enemy on stage and off. This emotionally charged play is guaranteed to keep audiences breathless as it moves from wickedly funny to tragically sublime as the two men's relationship runs its course," according to Alliance.

The Alliance design team includes Clint Ramos (set and costume design), Pete Shinn (lighting design) and Clay Benning (sound designer).

Playwright David Mamet is currently represented with the Broadway premiere of his 1992 play Oleanna, and his latest work Race will begin previews Nov. 16 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. His plays also include Glengarry Glen Ross (1984 Pulitzer Prize and New York Drama Critics Circle Award, 2005 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play), American Buffalo, Boston Marriage, November, Speed-the-Plow and The Cryptogram. He has penned the screenplays for such films as "The Verdict," "The Untouchables," "Wag the Dog" and his own adaptation of "Oleanna." He has twice been nominated for an Academy Award. He has written and directed ten films including "Homicide," "The Spanish Prisoner," "State and Main," "House of Games," "Spartan" and "Redbelt."

Visit AllianceTheatre.

The Alliance Theatre is located within the Woodruff Arts Center, at the corner of Peachtree Street and 15th Street, in Atlanta, GA.

André De Shields and Ariel Shafir in A Life in the Theatre
photo by Greg Mooney