Oscar Nominee Jesse Eisenberg's Asuncion Extends Off-Broadway

By Adam Hetrick
07 Nov 2011

Jesse Eisenberg and Justin Bartha
Jesse Eisenberg and Justin Bartha
Photo by Sandra Coudert

The Off-Broadway world premiere of Asuncion, the new comedy by Academy Award nominee Jesse Eisenberg, has extended its run an additional three weeks of performances through Dec. 18.

Eisenberg ("The Social Network," "The Squid and the Whale," "The Village"), who wrote and stars in the play, is joined by Justin Bartha (All New People, Lend Me A Tenor, "The Hangover"). The two play 20-something roommates who share a shabby apartment with a new female roommate. 

Kip Fagan (Reborning, That Pretty Pretty…) directs the production for the Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, which began previews Oct. 12 and officially opened Oct. 27. Performances were originally scheduled to conclude Nov. 27 at the Cherry Lane Theatre.

Asuncion also features Remy Auberjonois (The Country Girl, Frost/Nixon) as Stuart and Camille Mana ("Smart People," "One on One") in her Off-Broadway debut in the title role.

Here's how Rattlestick describes the play: "Edgar and Vinny are not racist. In fact, Edgar maintains a blog condemning American imperialism and Vinny is three-quarters into a PhD in Black Studies. When a young Filipina woman named Asuncion becomes their new roommate, the pair have a perfect opportunity to demonstrate how open minded they truly are."

Read the recent Playbill magazine feature about Off-Broadway plays by actor-writers Eisenberg and Zoe Kazan.

The design team includes John McDermott (set design), Jessica Pabst (costume design), Ben Station (lighting design), Bart Fasbender (sound design), Andrew Diaz (prop design) and Melissa Mae Gregus (production stage manager).

Visit rattlestick.org. The Cherry Lane Theatre is located at 38 Commerce Street.