Slated for the week of Dec. 6, the workshop of the Roundabout commission will be directed by Scott Elliott (The Women).
Shawn (Aunt Dan and Lemon) translates and adapts the original German book and lyrics of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill's classic musical. Set in London in the 1800s, the The Threepenny Opera concerns a notorious bandit who marries a girl, much to the chagrin of her father. The peeved patriarch does everything in his power to imprison his son-in-law in this political and social satire.
Roundabout announced the work in June 2003 for the 2004-2005 season, but later bumped it from the lineup. The Brecht-Weill work last saw the Broadway stage in 1989 as 3 Penny Opera starring Sting.
Falco — star of the HBO mob hit "The Sopranos" — is currently being seen on Broadway in the Michael Mayer-directed revival of Marsha Norman's 'night, Mother. The actress has also appeared on Broadway in the Warren Leight play Side Man and the recent Broadway staging of Terrence McNally's Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune.
Baranksi last appeared on Broadway in the one-night benefit Short Talks on the Universe. Her stage credits include Nick and Nora, Rumors, The House of Blue Leaves, Hurlyburly, The Real Thing and Lips Together, Teeth Apart as well asSweeney Todd at the Kennedy Center in May 2002. The actress is also known for her work in such films as "The Birdcage," "Chicago" and television shows as "Cybill" and "Welcome to New York." The actor-playwright Shawn is set to star opposite Ethan Hawke in the upcoming Off Broadway revival of David Rabe's Hurylyburly which also stars Bobby Cannavale, Josh Hamilton, Catherine Kellner and Parker Posey. He also appeared in the recent New York Theatre Workshop reading of David Hare's Stuff Happens as United Nations inspector Hans Blix. He is known for his turns in the films "My Dinner With Andre," "The Princess Bride" and as the voice of Rex in the "Toy Story" movies.
As a playwright, Shawn's Aunt Dan and Lemon was revived by The New Group last season. His other works include Marie and Bruce — his screen adaptation starring Matthew Broderick debuted at this year's Sundance Film Festival — and The Designated Mourner, which was staged in New York in 2000 with Shawn and Larry Pine in a cast directed by Andre Gregory.
Founding Artistic Director of Off-Broadway's The New Group, Elliott directed Shawn's Aunt Dan and Lemon for the company as well as the 2001 Broadway revival of The Women for Roundabout. Other credits include Three Sisters, Present Laughter, Kiki & Herb: A Coup de Theatre, The Women of Lockerbie, Comedians and Smelling a Rat. A one-time performer, he appearded on Broadway in Les Miserables and Ain't Broadway Grand.
