Justin Kirk stars as a wayfarer who travels the globe for his birthright in the belief that he's the lost prince of a mythical land in the world premiere of The World Over, by Keith Bunin, launching the 2002-03 season for Playwrights Horizons, Sept. 6.
Kirk is remembered for roles in Love! Valour! Compassion! (on stage and screen), Old Wicked Songs and Ten Unknowns. In HBO's highly anticipated version of Tony Kushner's "Angels in America," he'll play Prior Walter.
In The World Over, Kirk'll keep company with six other actors performing more than 30 roles in the modern fable, directed by Tim Vasen. The cast includes Mia Barron, Kevin Isola, Stephen Largay, Matthew Maher, Rhea Seehorn and James Urbaniak.
How fantastical is the fable? The characters' names include Oleandra, Amarantha, Xavier, Wilhelm, Gryphon, Vincitore, Anselm, Saturnius, Darkly Jack, Ulrike, Cindra, Marguerite, Lorenzacchio and (the Kirk role) just plain "Adam."
Opening is set for Oct. 1 at The Duke on 42nd Street, a borrowed Off-Broadway space while the company completes construction on its new West 42nd Street, set to open in early 2003. Performances of The World Over continue to Oct. 13. Playwright Bunin penned The Credeaux Canvas, staged by Playwrights Horizons, and The Principality of Sorrows). Director Vasen is resident director of Baltimore's Center Stage.
Designers are Mark Wendland (scenic), Ilona Somogyi (costume), Michael Chybowski (lighting), with original music and sound design by David Van Tieghem.
Tickets are $50, with student rush seats available for $15 on the day of performance, cash-only. The Sept. 6 performance is a Pay-What-You-Can night. The Duke on 42nd Street is at 229 W. 42nd Street. For information, call (212) 239-6200 or visit www.playwrightshorizons.org.
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Playwrights Horizons is "a writers' theatre dedicated to the support and development of contemporary American playwrights, composers and lyricists, and to the production of their new work."
— By Kenneth Jones
