Judith Ivey stages the work, which began previews Sept. 26 for a limited engagement through Nov. 4 at 59E59 Theaters.
Billed as "an exploration of the intimate workings of all relationships," the two-hander is about "a widow and widower who meet later in life and find a way into each other's hearts." The play was a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize for Playwriting.
Fuller has performed in Wendy Wasserstein's An American Daughter and Neil Simon's The Dinner Party — for which she was Tony nominated. Her other nod came for her turn in Applause. Other credits include Broadway's Rex, Cabaret and Barefoot in the Park as well as Off-Broadway's Five by Tenn, Beautiful Child and A New Brain.
Keith appeared in Broadway's Caroline or Change, Cabaret, Titanic and Off Broadway's The God Committee and This Thing of Darkness. He replaces previous star William "Biff" McGuire, Tony Award-nominated actor of Morning's at Seven and The Young Man from Atlanta, who aggravated a previous back injury during rehearsals and could not continue with the show on doctor's orders.
The design team includes Thomas Lynch (sets), Joseph G. Aulisi (costumes), Brian Nason (lighting) and T. Richard Fitzgerald (sound). Paul Schwartz provides original and incidental music. B.H. Barry serves as fight director. The production stage manager is Misha Siegel-Rivers. The work was previously announced to star Dixie Carter and Hal Holbrook under the direction of Leonard Foglia — who directed the duo in the Coconut Grove Playhouse world premiere.
The new season at Primary began with the world premiere of A. R. Gurney's Indian Blood and will continue, following Southern Comforts, with the New York premiere of the Christopher Durang and Peter Melnick musical Adrift in Macao directed by Sheryl Kaller (Jan. 23-March 4, 2007). The 2006-2007 lineup ends with the world premiere of Terrence McNally's new play Deuce starring Marian Seldes (March 20-April 29, 2007).
Tickets to Southern Comforts, at 59E59 Theaters, are available by calling (212) 279-4200. For more information about Primary Stages, visit the website at www.primarystages.com.
