Ziemba's official website says the actress will star in Ludwig's Leading Ladies, which begins previews at Ford's Sept. 23. The limited engagement, directed by Mark Rucker, will run through Oct. 23. The company, according to the Ford's website, will also include John Astin as Doc and Charlotte Rae as Florence. In Leading Ladies, "Leo and Jack are two down-on-their luck Shakespearean actors touring the Moose Lodge circuit. Penniless and desperate, they hatch a wild plot that leads them to play the roles of their lives." Playwright Ludwig has also penned Lend Me a Tenor (Tony Award) and Moon Over Buffalo as well as the books for Crazy for You and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
Karen Ziemba won a Tony Award portraying the Wife in Susan Stroman's Contact. She has also starred on Broadway in Never Gonna Dance, Chicago, Steel Pier, Crazy for You and 42nd Street, and her Off Broadway work includes a Drama Desk Award-winning performance in And the World Goes 'Round as well as roles in I Do! I Do!, 110 in the Shade and The Most Happy Fella. She also headlined the City Center Encores! presentation of Pajama Game.
Ford's Theatre is located in Washington, D.C. at 511 Tenth Street, NW. Tickets, which go on sale to the public Aug. 22, will be available by calling (202) 347-4833. Visit www.fordstheatre.org for more information.