Brian Dennehy to Lead THE STEWARD OF CHRISTENDOM at Mark Taper Forum in 2013

The Taper's 46^th season at the Los Angeles Music Center will open with the off-Broadway hit comic drama "Tribes" by Nina Raine, directed by David Cromer; and continue with the August Wilson classic "Joe Turner's Come and Gone," directed by Phylicia Rashad;  the new dark comedy "A Parallelogram" by Bruce Norris, directed by Anna D. Shapiro; and the farce "What the Butler Saw" by the inimitable Joe Orton, directed by John Tillinger. The season closes with Brian Dennehy in the deeply moving "The Steward of Christendom" by Sebastian Barry, directed by Steven Robman.

"What I love about this season," said CTG Artistic Director Michael Ritchie, "is that we have five brilliant playwrights who, in distinctly original voices, are tackling life's grand questions, and presenting the human experience in all its richness and variety. The storytelling is first-rate, with the timeless treasures of August Wilson's dramas and Joe Orton's farces, the edgy comedy of Bruce Norris, the fresh new voice of English playwright Nina Raine, and the compassion of Sebastian Barry who comes to us from Ireland's majestic theatrical tradition."

This is a season that will fill the Taper with glorious language – language of crystal clarity and beauty and humor. We will also have directors of the highest quality to match these plays.  No one knows the precision-drawn chaos of Joe Orton like John Tillinger; and with her memorable portrayal of Aunt Ester in August Wilson's 'Gem of the Ocean,' we know how in tune Phylicia Rashad is with the rhythm and lyricism of August Wilson.  Two award-winning directors will bring out the rich characters and storylines in two of the newer plays: Anna D. Shapiro with Bruce Norris' clever puzzle of a play, and David Cromer with Nina Raine's impassioned exploration of family and self.  Veteran stage and TV director Steven Robman has a special affinity for Irish plays which you will see in his work on Barry's 'The Steward of Christendom.'

"I'd like to add how happy I am to finally be working with Brian Dennehy," said Ritchie.  "We have known each other for some time now, but this is our first venture together.  What a treat it is to have this remarkable actor on our stage."

"Tribes"

by Nina Raine