Theater News

Martin Short, Cynthia Nixon, and Wayne Brady Join White Rabbit Red Rabbit Cast

The off-Broadway production will feature one actor performing a script they’ve never seen before.

Martin Short will perform White Rabbit Red Rabbit off-Broadway on May 2.
Martin Short will perform White Rabbit Red Rabbit off-Broadway on May 2.
(© David Gordon)

The upcoming off-Broadway premiere of White Rabbit Red Rabbit, the internationally acclaimed play by Nassim Soleimanpour, has added additional performers to its unique lineup of rotating casts. The work will run Monday nights at the Westside Theatre beginning March 7.

The production will feature a rotating cast of stars who will see the script for the first time immediately before stepping onstage for their performances. "No rehearsal. No director. No set. No spoilers. A different performer each night is handed the script for the first time as they step onto the stage."

Four-time Emmy winner Wayne Brady (Kinky Boots) will perform on April 4, with Emmy and Tony winner Cynthia Nixon (Sex and the City) performing on April 18, and Emmy and Tony winner Martin Short (Father of the Bride) taking the stage on May 2.

The roster of actors, each of whom performs only once, includes Emmy and Tony winner Nathan Lane (March 7); Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony winner Whoopi Goldberg (March 14); Golden Globe, Emmy, and Tony nominee Patrick Wilson (March 21); Golden Globe, Emmy, and Tony winner Brian Dennehy (March 28); and comedian, actor, and director Mike Birbiglia (April 11).

On dates soon to be announced (pending artist availability), performers will also include Emmy and Tony winner Christine Baranski; Tony winner and Emmy nominee Alan Cumming; Olivier and Tony nominee Ramin Karimloo; Emmy and Tony winner Andrea Martin; three-time Tony winner Marin Mazzie; Emmy and Tony winner Donna Murphy; Emmy and Tony winner David Hyde Pierce; and television, film, and stage star George Takei.

White Rabbit Red Rabbit is described as follows: "Forbidden to leave his country, young Iranian playwright Nassim Soleimanpour found a way for his voice to get out when he physically could not — distilling the experience of his isolation in an audacious and utterly nontraditional new play. This wildly entertaining and thought-provoking theatrical piece — where no audience can see the same show twice — blends drama, comedy and social experiment, providing audiences with a potent reminder of the transformative power of theater."

The play had its world premiere in 2011 at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, winning the Arches Brick Award, followed by presentations at Summerworks and Dublin Fringe Festival where it was awarded Outstanding New Performance and Best New Performance, respectively. The play has since been translated into 15 different languages and performed over 200 times worldwide by such stars as Michael Shannon, John Hurt, Stephen Fry, Stephen Rea, Sinead Cusack, David Morse, and more.

For tickets and more information, click here.

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White Rabbit Red Rabbit

Closed: December 19, 2016