The Lyons Previews Start April 5

Transfers to Broadway's Cort Theatre

By: Ariel Petrova - Mar 21, 2012

The Off Broadway hit The Lyons is moving to Broadway.

 

THE LYONS
A new comedy
Starring Tony winners Linda Lavin and Dick Latessa
Begins previews on Broadway April 5
Opening night is April 23
Michael Esper, Kate Jennings Grant, Brenda Pressley and Gregory Wooddell
featured in Nicky Silver's comedy
Directed by Mark Brokaw
Cort Theatre box office opens March 22

Nicky Silver's play THE LYONS -- a critical and popular success when it debuted last fall at Vineyard Theatre -- transfers to Broadway's Cort Theatre (138 W. 48 St.) with its entire original cast intact, including the Tony Award-winning stars Linda Lavin and Dick Latessa, along with Michael Esper, Kate Jennings Grant, Brenda Pressley and Gregory Wooddell. The Vineyard Theatre production of THE LYONS will be presented on Broadway by producer Kathleen K. Johnson. Mark Brokaw directs.

THE LYONS will begin previews at the Cort on April 5, prior to its Broadway opening on April 23.

Tickets to THE LYONS are on sale now through Tele-charge at 212 239 6200 or online at www.telecharge.com. The Cort Theatre box office opens for sales starting Thursday, March 22.

THE LYONS is a funny and edgy work starring Linda Lavin as Rita Lyons, the indomitable matriarch of a family at a major crossroads: her husband is dying, her son's in a dubious relationship, her daughter's struggling to stay sober and on top of it all, she can't settle on a new design for the living room.

THE LYONS -- the first play by Mr. Silver (PTERODACTYLS, RAISED IN CAPTIVITY, THE FOOD CHAIN, THE EROS TRILOGY, THE MAIDEN'S PRAYER, etc.) to come to Broadway -- was a major success during its sold-out, twice-extended run at The Vineyard last year.

Critics had much praise for THE LYONS:

Ben Brantley in The New York Times called it, "Nicky Silver's best play in years. Hilariously frank, clear-sighted, compassionate and forgiving, THE LYONS is fluidly directed by Mark Brokaw and performed by top-drawer actors. Linda Lavin is a master performer who plies one-liners as if they were samurai swords."

Scott Brown in New York Magazine wrote, "THE LYONS succeeds marvelously. Silver is in top form -- a funny, furious tale with honesty, humanity and wit."

Joe Dziemianowicz in NY Daily News wrote, "THE LYONS is a sharp-tongued play with snappy dialogue and a top-flight cast. Linda Lavin is delicious and constantly hilarious."

Elisabeth Vincentelli in NY Post said, "THE LYONS is very funny and surprisingly affecting. Silver has written his best dialogue in ages. Linda Lavin is a virtuoso marksman, hitting her target every single time."

Kathleen K. Johnson has been a producer on the Broadway productions of RACE, HAIR, BLITHE SPIRIT, SUPERIOR DONUTS and A LIFE IN THE THEATRE.

THE LYONS was the ninth play by Nicky Silver to debut at The Vineyard, and will be his first-ever play on Broadway. His other Vineyard premieres include PTERODACTYLS, RAISED IN CAPTIVITY, THE EROS TRILOGY, THE MAIDEN'S PRAYER, THE ALTRUISTS, BEAUTIFUL CHILD as well as MY MARRIAGE TO ERNEST BORGNINE and THE AGONY AND THE AGONY. Other notable plays include THREE CHANGES, THE FOOD CHAIN, FAT MEN IN SKIRTS, FIT TO BE TIED, FREE WILL AND WANTON LUST. He wrote the new book for the Broadway revival of the Rodgers and Hart musical, THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE.

Linda Lavin appeared at the Kennedy Center in FOLLIES; at Lincoln Center Theatre in OTHER DESERT CITIES, THE SISTERS ROSENSWEIG (Broadway), THE NEW CENTURY (Drama Desk Award; Off-Broadway). Broadway: COLLECTED STORIES (Tony nomination), HOLLYWOOD ARMS, THE TALE OF THE ALLERGIST’S WIFE (Tony nom.), THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK (Tony nom., Drama Desk Award), GYPSY, BROADWAY BOUND (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Helen Hayes awards), THE LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS (Tony nom.), COP OUT, STORY THEATRE, SOMETHING DIFFERENT, IT’S A BIRD…IT’S A PLANE…IT’S SUPERMAN, A FAMILY AFFAIR. Off-Broadway: CAKEWALK; DEATH (The Public); THE MAD SHOW; OH, KAY! (Theatre World Award) and LITTLE MURDERS (Outside Critics Circle Award). Regional: FINISHING THE PICTURE, COLLECTED STORIES, DOUBT, RABBIT HOLE, DRIVING MISS DAISY. Film: the recently-released "Wanderlust," "The Backup Plan," "The Muppets Take Manhattan," "See You in the Morning," "I Want to Go Home." TV: “Alice”, “Barney Miller”, “Room for Two”, “Conrad Bloom”. TV films “The $5.20 an Hour Dream”, “A Matter of Life and Death”, “A Place to Call Home”, “Lena: My 100 Children”, “Best Friends for Life”, “The Ring”, “Collected Stories”. Cabaret: SONGS AND CONFESSIONS OF A ONE-TIME WAITRESS; national appearances include Birdland, The Metropolitan Room, Wilmington Symphony, NY. She recently released her first-ever CD, "Possibilities," a recording of jazz and cabaret standards with musical director Billy Stritch.

Dick Latessa previously appeared at The Vineyard in its revival of Marc Blitzstein's musical JUNO. He won the Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for his performance in the Tony Award-winning musical HAIRSPRAY. Other Broadway credits: CABARET, PROPOSALS, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED… DAMN YANKEES, THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES, RUMORS, BROADWAY BOUND, RAGS, BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS, PASSIONE, I OUGHT TO BE IN PICTURES, CHAPTER TWO, FOLLIES, AWAKE AND SING!, DuBARRY WAS A LADY, LI'L ABNER. His Off-Broadway credits include CHAUCER IN ROME, OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS, FIT TO BE TIED and SOPHISTRY. His TV and film work includes "The Substance of Fire," "Alfie," "The Good Wife" and "Six Degrees."

Mark Brokaw's credits on Broadway include directing the musical CRY BABY along with the plays THE CONSTANT WIFE, RECKLESS and AFTER MISS JULIE. He has directed the musicals A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (Kennedy Center Sondheim Celebration), MARTY (Huntington Theatre Company), and Cole Porter's OUT OF THIS WORLD (Encores!). He directed the Pulitzer Prize-winning production of Paula Vogel's HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE along with her plays THE LONG CHRISTMAS RIDE HOME and THE BALTIMORE WALTZ. Also at The Vineyard he directed THE DYING GAUL, EIGHT DAYS (BACKWARDS) and AMERICAN FIESTA. He directed the premieres of Kenneth Lonergan's LOBBY HERO and THIS IS OUR YOUTH as well as Douglas Carter Beane's AS BEES IN HONEY DROWN and MUSIC FROM A SPARKLING PLANET. He will direct the first-ever production of CINDERELLA on Broadway, aiming for the 2012-13 season.

Kate Jennings Grant was last seen on Broadway in the 2009 revival of GUYS AND DOLLS. Her other Broadway credits are PROOF and AN AMERICAN DAUGHTER.

Brenda Pressley appeared in DREAMGIRLS (original company), THE AMERICAN PLAN, CATS, THE MOONEY SHAPIRO SONGBOOK, SEVEN GUITARS and MARVIN'S ROOM.

Michael Esper has been seen on Broadway in AMERICAN IDIOT and A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS. His Off-Broadway credits include THE INTELLIGENT HOMOSEXUAL'S GUIDE TO CAPITALISM AND SOCIALISM WITH A KEY TO THE SCRIPTURES. Gregory Wooddell appeared in CYMBELINE at Lincoln Center Theatre, and in the world-premiere of Terrence McNally's SOME MEN at Philadelphia Theatre Center.

The design team for THE LYONS at The Vineyard continues on Broadway: scenic design by Allen Moyer; lighting design by David Lander; costume design by Michael Krass; and original music and sound design by David Van Tieghem.

THE LYONS marks the fourth production by Vineyard Theatre to transfer to Broadway, following the long-running Tony Award-winning musical AVENUE Q along with [title of show] and THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS.

One of the nation´s leading non-profit theatre companies dedicated to new plays and musicals and bold programming, The Vineyard has consistently premiered provocative, groundbreaking works including the Pulitzer Prize-winning productions of Edward Albee´s THREE TALL WOMEN and Paula Vogel´s HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE, Tarell Alvin McCraney´s WIG OUT!, The Civilians´ THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY, Nicky Silver´s PTERODACTYLS and RAISED IN CAPTIVITY, the Laura Nyro musical ELI´S COMIN´, A BOY AND HIS SOUL, written and performed by Colman Domingo, Adam Rapp´s THE METAL CHILDREN, Will Eno´s MIDDLETOWN and Christopher Shinn's PICKED. The company most recently produced Zayd Dohrn's new play OUTSIDE PEOPLE as a co-production with Naked Angels, and in March will produce the world-premiere of NOW.HERE.THIS. from the creators and cast of [title of show], as well as a Lab Production of the musical THE LANDING by Tony Award winner John Kander and his new collaborator Greg Pierce, with David Hyde Pierce set to perform in the 4-person cast.

Douglas Aibel is Artistic Director of the Vineyard Theatre, Jennifer Garvey-Blackwell is Executive Producer, Sarah Stern is Co-Artistic Director and Rebecca Habel is Managing Director.

Tickets to THE LYONS on Broadway range in price from $26.50 to $126.50. THE LYONS will perform Tuesdays at 7 p.m., Wednesdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. For information and reservations call Tele-charge at 212 239 6200 or online at www.telecharge.com. For additional information, visit www.TheLyonsBroadway.com .