Hoffmann Replaces Garner in subUrbia; First Preview Now Sept. 7

By Andrew Gans
and Ernio Hernandez
September 1, 2006

Kelli Garner has withdrawn from Second Stage's upcoming production of subUrbia due to a conflict with her filming schedule for "Lars and the Real Girl."

Gaby Hoffmann will replace the actress in the role of Sooze in the Eric Bogosian play, which will now begin previews Sept. 7, one day later than originally announced. Directed by Jo Bonney, the production will officially open Sept. 28 and run through Oct. 29.

Gaby Hoffmann was seen in Wendy Wasserstein's Third, and her other theatrical credits include 24 Hour Plays and The Sugar Syndrome. On screen the actress has appeared in "Field of Dreams," "Uncle Buck," "This Is My Life," "Sleepless in Seattle," "Man Without a Face," "Now and Then," "Everyone Says I Love You," "Snapped," "Strike," "200 Cigarettes," "Coming Soon," "Black and White," "You Can Count On Me" and "Perfume."

In subUrbia, Bogosian takes an anti-utopian look into the lives of seven youths who meet at the parking lot of a Pakistani-owned convenience store. The work, which debuted in 1994 at Lincoln Center, will return to New York more than a decade later.

The cast of subUrbia will also feature Diksha Basu (Harvest), Jessica Capshaw (Fat Pig, "The Practice"), Kieran Culkin (After Ashley, "Igby Goes Down") Michael Esper (Manic Flight Reaction, Big Bill), Halley Feiffer (Urgent Fury, "The Squid and the Whale"), Daniel Eric Gold (The Paris Letter, Small Tragedy, Cagelove), Manu Narayan (Bombay Dreams, Getting Home) and Peter Scanavino (Shining City, The Moonlight Room).

The design team will include Richard Hoover(scenic), Mimi O'Donnell (costume), David Weiner (lighting) and Rob Kaplowitz (sound).

The new 2006-2007 season at Second Stage will also include Terrence McNally's Some Men and Theresa Rebeck's The Scene as well as a fourth and final production, to play in the spring, that will be announced at a later date.

For subscriptions to the new season at Second Stage, 307 West 43rd Street (just off Eighth Ave.), visit the box office, call (212) 246-4422 or (800) 766-6048. For more information, go to www.SecondStageTheatre.com.