Neil LaBute Will Direct World Premiere of His New Play, Reasons to Be Happy, for MCC

By Andrew Gans
30 Nov 2012

Neil LaBute
Neil LaBute
Photo by Joseph Marzullo/WENN

MCC Theater announced Nov. 30 that MCC Playwright-in-Residence Neil LaBute will direct the world premiere of his new play, Reasons to Be Happy, as part of its 2012-13 season.

Reasons to Be Happy replaces the previously announced production of John Pollono’s Small Engine Repair, which has been delayed "due to new filming scheduling conflicts for previously announced cast members," according to MCC. The Off-Broadway company intends to stage Small Engine Repair at a later date.

Reasons to Be Happy will begin previews May 16, 2013, prior to an official opening June 2 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street). The production will continue through June 23, 2013.

Additional information, including complete casting, will be announced shortly.

LaBute’s new play, according to press notes, "begins three years after a contentious break-up, with Steph and Greg wondering if they can make a fresh go of it. Trouble is, she’s married to someone else and he’s just embarked on a relationship with Steph’s best friend, Carly, a single mom whose jealous ex-husband, Kent, has trouble articulating his feelings – navigating the rocky landscape of conflicting agendas and exploding emotions isn’t going to be easy for any of them."

Reasons to Be Happy is a companion piece to LaBute’s award-winning reasons to be pretty, first produced at MCC Theater in 2008 before moving to Broadway, where it was nominated for three 2009 Tony Awards, including Best Play.

Two-play subscriptions, which include Reasons to Be Happy and the New York premiere of Really Really by Paul Downs Colaizzo and directed by David Cromer, are available now beginning at $79 by visiting www.mcctheater.org or calling (212) 352-3101.