Yale Rep resident director Evan Yionoulis stages the work, scheduled to open at the New Haven, Connecticut's mainstage Dec. 7 for a run through Dec. 23.
In Black Snow, "a young writer's dream rapidly turns into a comic nightmare when the most illustrious theatre in Moscow decides to make a play out of his novel," a show description reveals.
A founding member and former associate director of Yale Rep, Epstein takes on the role of "absurdly autocratic but brilliant artistic director." Black Snow will mark his 33rd show with the company and his first onstage appearance in nearly 30 years.
Epstein was seen in The Actors' Shakespeare Project's staging of King Lear — which played in Boston and then enjoyed a New York City run. Other recent credits include The Cherry Orchard (Atlantic Theater Company), Endgame (Irish Repertory Theater) Tuesdays With Morrie (Minetta Lane Theatre). The actor made his New York debut in 1956 and appeared as the Fool to Orson Welles’ King Lear. He also appeared in the American premieres of Waiting For Godot (as Lucky - which he reprised for the 1961 television premiere opposite Zero Mostel and Burgess Meredith) and Endgame.
Joining Epstein in the cast are Amir Arison, Katie Barrett, Susan Blommaert, Matthew Boston, Brian Hutchison, David Lapkin, Anthony Manna, Steve Routman, Charles Semine, Adam Stein and Tamilla Woodard. The design team for Black Snow includes Dustin Eshenroder (scenic), Rachel Myers (costume), Stephen Strawbridge (lighting) and David Budries (sound). Carla Mastraccio serves as dramaturg, Pamela Prather provides vocal coaching, David DeBesse handles fight direction and Derek DiGregorio is the stage manager.
Reddin has penned the plays Life and Limb, Rum and Coke (which debuted at Yale Rep in 1985), Highest Standard of Living, Life During Wartime, Big Time, Nebraska, Brutality of Fact, Black Snow, The Innocents Crusade, Almost Blue, Synergy, All the Rage, Can't Let Go and Frame 312.
Tickets to the Black Snow at Yale Rep, 1120 Chapel Street (at York St.) in New Haven, CT, call (203) 432-1234. For more information, visit www.yalerep.org.
