The New Group's upcoming 10th Anniversary season will also include a New Group (naked) presentation of A Spalding Gray Matter — which explores the titular star's tumultuous life — performed by its author Michael Brandt and directed by Ian Morgan.
In Turning Into Beautiful, which is billed as a "musical story," Cannavale and Sciorra star as "two songwriters facing their forties and failure – and the possibility of new love," according to production notes.
The recent star of The New Group's Hurlyburly, Cannavale currently appears in the film "Happy Endings" and the upcoming John Turturro moviemusical "Romance & Cigarettes." The Union City, New Jersey native has been seen on stage in Suzan Lori Parks' Fucking A. He is also known for his work on television ("Third Watch, "Kingpin," "Six Feet Under" and "Will & Grace") and film ("Shall We Dance?" and "The Station Agent").
Sciorra who starred in The New Group's Roar has also played on the New York stage in the Off-Broadway stagings of David Rabe's Those The River Keeps and Eve Ensler's The Vagina Monologues. The Italian-American actress, who guest starred on HBO's "The Sopranos," has appeared in such films as "Jungle Fever," "Cadillac Man," "The Night We Never Met," "Romeo is Bleeding," "Mr. Wonderful," "What Dreams May Come" and the current "Chasing Liberty."
Everything's Turning Into Beautiful as well as A Spalding Gray Matter will hit the stage following The New Group's previously announced shows: Mike Leigh's Abigail's Party starring Jennifer Jason Leigh directed by Scott Elliott (in November) and the world premiere of The Music Teacher written by Wallace Shawn with music by Allen Shawn (in February 2006). *
Abigail's Party which centers on a dinner party gone awry, and was first produced in London in 1977 at the Hampstead Theatre. It then became popular through the BBC television adaptation. The work was recently revived in 2002 at the New Ambassador's Theatre, earning a nomination for an Olivier Theatre Award for Best Revival of 2002.
Actress Leigh (no relation to the British scribe) has appeared on Broadway in Cabaret and Proof. She is best known for her film work appearing in such movies as "Fast Times at Ridgemont High," "Rush," "Single White Female," "Dolores Claiborne," "Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle" and "The Anniversary Party" — which she co-wrote and co-directed with co-star Alan Cumming.
The Off-Broadway troupe will again team with actor-playwright Wallace Shawn on the world premiere of The Music Teacher. Shawn pens the new work billed as a "play-opera" which features music by his brother Allen Shawn. Casting and director are to be announced.
Shawn has collaborated with director Elliott as an actor on Hurlyburly, as a playwright for the revival of his Aunt Dan and Lemon and for the new adaptation of The Threepenny Opera to be presented on Broadway this season. Other plays Shawn has penned include Marie and Bruce, The Designated Mourner, The Fever and Thought In Three Parts.
All productions will play at The New Group @ Theatre Row, 410 West 42nd Street. For more info, visit TheNewGroup.org. For more information on The New Group, visit the website at http://www.thenewgroup.org.
