Jesse Eisenberg's Asuncion, with Eisenberg and Justin Bartha, Opens Oct. 27

By Adam Hetrick
October 27, 2011

The Rattlestick Playwrights Theater production Asuncion, the world-premiere political comedy by Academy Award-nominated playwright-actor Jesse Eisenberg, officially opens Off-Broadway Oct. 27 at the Cherry Lane Theatre.

Kip Fagan (Reborning, That Pretty Pretty…) stages the comedy about two 20-something roommates who share a shabby apartment and the woman who enters their live. The production began previews Oct. 12 and will run through Nov. 27.

The cast is led by playwright Eisenberg ("The Social Network," "The Squid and the Whale," "The Village") and Justin Bartha (All New People, Lend Me A Tenor, "The Hangover"), who play Edgar and Vinny, respectively.

They are joined by 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.