Rifkin — a constant star of Baitz works — starred in the Los Angeles debut of the new work as well as his The Substance of Fire and Three Hotels. The actor, known to television audiences for his work on "Alias," earned a 1998 Tony Award for his portrayal in Cabaret. Other credits include Wrong Mountain, A Month in the Country, Broken Glass, The Tenth Man and The Goodbye People.
Previews began May 13 at the Laura Pels Theatre for the New York premiere of The Paris Letter which is slated to open June 12 for a limited engagement through Aug. 7.
Director Doug Hughes (Doubt, Frozen) directs the Off-Broadway run featuring Rifkin as well as Michele Pawk (Hollywood Arms), John Glover (Love! Valour! Compassion!), Jason Butler Harner (Orange Flower Water) and Daniel Eric Gold (The Singing Forest).
In Paris Letter, a Wall Street hotshot struggles to escape a past that catches up with him and threatens both his personal and professional lives.
Boston's Huntington Theatre Company commissioned the new work, which was seen in a New York City reading in December 2003. The drama was also developed at California's Ojai Playwrights Conference. Originally thought to be headed for Broadway under the auspices of Elizabeth McCann, Scott Rudin and Hal Luftig, the world premiere played in Culver City, California at the new Kirk Douglas Theater Dec. 5, 2004-Jan. 2, 2005. Baitz's one-act Show People was performed as part of a Mike Nichols produced benefit called Short Talks on the Universe in November 2002. He also penned the adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler used in the 2001 Broadway revival. His Ten Unknowns was produced by Lincoln Center Theatre, who have also presented the scribe's A Fair Country and The Substance of Fire. Other works include Mizlansky/Zilinsky or 'Schmucks,' Three Hotels and The Film Society.
The Laura Pels Theatre in the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre is located at 111 West 46th Street . For more information, call Roundabout Ticket Services at (212) 719-1300 or go online to www.roundabouttheatre.org.
