Mahoney will play the Old Man in the limited engagement of the production, which will officially open March 8 and play through Aprill 22. Directed by Proof's Daniel Sullivan, the Craig Lucas play will also feature Annie Parisse as Rita, Alan Tudyk as Peter and Robin Bartlett as Mrs. Boyle. Additional casting will be announced shortly.
In Prelude to a Kiss, Peter and Rita, according to press notes, "follow their whirlwind courtship with a storybook wedding. After a mysterious elderly man appears and kisses the bride at the wedding, the two lovers are sent on a magical journey that they will never forget. As they struggle to come to terms with their relationship and Rita’s nagging doubts, their love is put to the test by unknown forces."
The creative team for the production will also include Santo Loquasto (set design), Jane Greenwood (costume design), Donald Holder (lighting design) and John Gromada (sound design and original compositions).
Mahoney won a Tony and a Theatre World Award for his Broadway debut in The House of Blue Leaves. He was also nominated for two Emmys and two Golden Globes for his performance on TV's "Frasier." His many other screen credits include "Fathers and Sons," "Almost Salinas," "She's the One," "Primal Fear," "The American President," "The Hudsucker Proxy," "Reality Bites," "Striking Distance," "The Water Engine," "Article 99," "Barton Fink," "Dinner at Eight" and "Say Anything."
Parisse — known for her turn in "Law & Order" — was just seen Off-Broadway in Anne Washburn's The Internationalist and previously in Monster and The Credeaux Canvas. Tudyk — remembered for film stints in "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story," "28 Days" and "A Knight's Tale" — replaced Hank Azaria during his hiatus in Monty Python's Spamalot. He was also seen on stage in Epic Proportions and The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told. The duo were both seen in Roundabout's Misalliance. Bartlett was seen on stage in Yentl, Reckless, Everett Beekin and on screen in "Postcards from the Edge," "Regarding Henry," "Moonstruck" and "Baby Boom."
Prelude to a Kiss will play Tuesday-Saturday evenings at 8 PM with matinees Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2 PM. The show will offer 7 PM curtains Tuesday, March 13-Friday, March 23.
The American Airlines Theatre is located in Manhattan at 227 West 42nd Street. Tickets, priced $51.25-$86.25, are now available by calling (212) 719-1300 or by visiting www.roundabouttheatre.org.
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The lead roles of Peter, Rita and Old Man were played in the 1990 Off-Broadway debut by Alec Baldwin, Mary-Louise Parker and Barnard Hughes, respectively.
The work, commissioned by South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa, California, made its world premiere there in 1988. Circle Repertory Theatre then presented the play Off-Broadway under the direction of Norman René. The production — which also featured Larry Bryggman, John Dossett and Debra Monk — transferred to Broadway's Helen Hayes Theatre with Timothy Hutton taking over for Baldwin. Baldwin would return to the role for the 1992 film version (adapted by Lucas and helmed again by René) opposite Meg Ryan and Sydney Walker.
Lucas recently penned the book for the Adam Guettel musical The Light in the Piazza and the plays The Singing Forest, Small Tragedy and an adaptation of Miss Julie. Other works include Reckless, Blue Window, God's Heart and Stranger, among others. In recent years, the playwright has taken to directing such productions as Play Yourself, Saved or Destroyed and This Thing of Darkness and made his feature film directing debut with his "The Dying Gaul."
Daniel Sullivan recently signed on to direct a forthcoming Broadway run of Harold Pinter's The Homecoming. The director last staged the 2005 revival of Julius Caesar starring Denzel Washington on Broadway. Other credits include Proof, A Moon for the Misbegotten, Major Barbara and The Heidi Chronicles.
