Manhattan Theatre Club's CLOSE UP SPACE Begins Rehearsals

The Manhattan Theatre Club world premiere of CLOSE UP SPACE, by Molly Smith Metzler, directed by Leigh Silverman begins rehearsals today. CLOSE UP SPACE will begin previews Thursday, December 1 and opens Monday, December 19 at MTC at New York City Center - Stage I (131 West 55th Street).

The limited engagement features Obie Award winner Michael Chernus (The Aliens, In The Wake), Jessica DiGiovanni (Off-Broadway debut), Colby Minifie (The Pillowman, Landscape of the Body), Academy Award and Emmy Award nominee Rosie Perez (Fearless, The Ritz) and Tony Award and four-time Emmy Award winner David Hyde Pierce ("Frasier," Curtains).

Tony Award and four-time Emmy Award winner David Hyde Pierce brings his signature wit back to the MTC stage as Paul Barrow, an obsessive book editor on a major deadline. With an assistant (Chernus) who's been camping in the office, a famous author (Perez) threatening to bail on him and an intern (DiGiovanni) who is no help at all, Paul's just about had it! But when his fiery daughter (Minifie) shows up and lambasts him in Russian, Paul faces a glaring personal error that can't be corrected with red ink. Leigh Silverman (Well, From Up Here, Chinglish) returns to MTC to direct this funny and poignant new play about how hard it can be to communicate... in any language.

The creative team for CLOSE UP SPACE includes: Todd Rosenthal (scenic design), Emily Rebholz (costume design), Matt Frey (lighting design), and Jill BC Du Boff (sound design).

Special thanks to The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust for supporting new American plays at Manhattan Theatre Club.

Under the leadership of Artistic Director Lynne Meadow and Executive Producer Barry Grove, MTC has become one of the country's most prominent and prestigious theatre companies. Over the past three decades, MTC productions have earned a total of 18 Tony Awards and six Pulitzer Prizes, an accomplishment unparalleled by a New York theatrical institution. MTC has a Broadway home at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street) and an Off-Broadway theatre at New York City Center - Stage I (131 West 55th Street). Since January 2011, Mandy Greenfield (Artistic Producer) has taken the lead in programming and execution at MTC's Off-Broadway home. Renowned MTC productions include Good People; The Whipping Man; Time Stands Still; The Royal Family; Ruined; The American Plan; Come Back, Little Sheba; Blackbird; Translations; Shining City; Rabbit Hole; Doubt; Proof; The Tale of the Allergist's Wife; Love! Valour! Compassion!; A Small Family Business; Sylvia; Putting It Together; Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune; Crimes of the Heart; and Ain't Misbehavin.'

For more information on MTC, please visit www.ManhattanTheatreClub.com.

TICKETING INFORMATION FOR CLOSE UP SPACE:
Tickets for CLOSE UP SPACE are available via the New York City Center Box Office (131 West 55th Street), CityTix® (212-581-1212) and www.nycitycenter.org.
Tickets for CLOSE UP SPACE are $80.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
Please note that CLOSE UP SPACE has a varied schedule:
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1 - SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4: Thursday through Saturday at 8 PM, Sunday at 7 PM. Matinee on Sunday at 2 PM. Please note there are only five performances this first partial week.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6 - SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18: Tuesday and Sunday at 7 PM, Wednesday through Saturday at 8 PM. Matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 2 PM.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20 - SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25: Tuesday and Wednesday at 7 PM, Thursday and Friday at 8 PM with a matinee on Wednesday at 2 PM. Please note there are only five performances on sale to the general public this week. There will be no performances on Saturday, December 24 or Sunday, December 25.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 26 - SUNDAY, JANUARY 1: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 7 PM, Thursday and Friday at 8 PM. Matinees on Wednesday and Saturday at 2 PM. Please note there is no performance on Sunday, January 1.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 3 - SUNDAY, JANUARY 8: Tuesday and Wednesday at 7 PM, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 PM. Matinees on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 2 PM.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 10 - SUNDAY, JANUARY 15: Tuesday and Wednesday at 7 PM, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 PM. Matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 2 PM. Please note, there are only seven performances on sale to the general public this week.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 17 - SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5: Tuesday and Wednesday at 7 PM, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 PM. Matinees on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 2 PM.

www.ManhattanTheatreClub.com