The Off-Broadway engagement began previews March 15 and officially opened April 2. Daniel Aukin directed 4000 Miles, which was originally scheduled through May 20 and first extended through June 17, then to July 1.
4000 Miles initially played an extended premiere last summer as part of Lincoln Center Theater's new works initiative LCT3. It is the first play from LCT3's new works program to graduate to a full Off-Broadway run at Lincoln Center Theater. The current production reunites the original LCT3 cast.
In the play, Tony Award winner Mary Louise Wilson stars as no-nonsense grandmother Vera, who still lives on her own in her West Village apartment. Ebert plays her grandson Leo, who arrives at her door in the middle of the night, having crossed the country on his bicycle after a life-altering loss.
4000 Miles also features Greta Lee as one of Leo's new female friends and Zoe Winters as his ex-girlfriend.
"Although there's 70 years between them, both are dealing with loss," Herzog said of the grandmother and grandson in an interview with Playbill. "Vera lost her husband about 10 years ago, but she experiences loss constantly at her age; Leo's dealing with his first major loss, the death of a close friend. They also have very set politics, and they both cling similarly to their ways of thinking." Lee last appeared on Broadway in the revival of David Hirson's La Bête. Winters appeared in the Paper Mill Playhouse production of The Importance of Being Earnest in 2009. Ebert was seen on Broadway in Brief Encounter and understudied the role of Ken in the Tony-winning drama Red.
Wilson won the Tony Award and received Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Lucille Lortel Award nominations for her performance in Grey Gardens. Her other credits include Full Gallop (as Diana Vreeland, for which she won a Drama Desk Award), the revival of Cabaret (Tony Award nomination), Show Boat, Fools, Prelude to a Kiss, Gypsy and Flora The Red Menace. Herzog's plays have been produced or developed at the Yale School of Drama, Ensemble Studio Theater, Arena Stage, New York Stage and Film, Provincetown Playhouse and ACT in San Francisco.
The production has set design by Lauren Helpern, costume design by Kaye Voyce, lighting design by Japhy Weideman and sound design by Ryan Rumery.
For tickets visit LincolnCenterTheater.
