Erik Jensen Replaces Adam Dannheisser in LCT3's Disgraced Off-Broadway

By Adam Hetrick
10 Oct 2012

Erik Jensen
Erik Jensen

Lincoln Center Theater announced Oct. 10 that Erik Jensen has replaced Adam Dannheisser in the LCT3 New York premiere of Ayad Akhtar's Disgraced, which began previews Oct. 7 Off-Broadway at the Claire Tow Theater.

Dannheisser (The Coast of Utopia), who portrayed Isaac, has withdrawn from the production due to illness. Jensen (The Exonerated, Aftermath, "The Bronx Is Burning") takes over the role Oct. 10. Opening night remains Oct. 22.

Disgraced premiered in January at Chicago’s American Theatre Company. Kimberly Senior, who staged the Chicago premiere of the play, returns to direct the Off-Broadway production that runs through Nov. 18.

The cast also features Aasif Mandvi ("The Daily Show with Jon Stewart"), Heidi Armbruster (Time Stands Still), Omar Maskati (The Belle's Stratagem) and Karen Pittman (Good People).

Disgraced, according to LCT3, "is the story of Amir Kapoor (Mandvi), a successful Pakistani-American lawyer who is rapidly moving up the corporate ladder while distancing himself from his cultural roots. When Amir and his wife Emily (Armbruster), a white artist influenced by Islamic paintings, host a dinner party, what starts out as a friendly conversation escalates into something far more damaging."

Read Playbill.com's Brief Encounter interview with Aasif Mandvi, who talks about his heritage and the challenges of being a South Asian actor.

The production has sets by Lauren Helpern, costumes by Dane Laffrey, lighting by Tyler Micoleau and sound by Jill BC DuBoff.

Akhtar is a writer and actor whose novel "American Dervish" was published earlier this year. He co-wrote and played the lead role in the film "The War Within." His play The Invisible Hand premiered at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis in March.

For tickets, visit LCT3.org. All tickets to all LCT3 productions are $20.