Photo Flash: First Look at Chris Bauer, Da'Vine Joy Randolph and More in Atlantic Theater's WHAT RHYMES WITH AMERICA

Atlantic Theater Company presents the world premiere of Melissa James Gibson's WHAT RYHMES WITH AMERICA, starring Atlantic ensemble member Chris Bauer leading a cast featuring Aimee Carrero, Seana Kofoed and Da'Vine Joy Randolph, directed by Daniel Aukin. Get a first look at the cast onstage in the photos below!

WHAT RHYMES WITH AMERICA began previews Monday, November 19; officially opens Wednesday, December 12; and will play a limited engagement through Sunday, December 30, 2012 off-Broadway at Atlantic's main stage Linda Gross Theater (336 West 20th Street).

A father (Bauer) and his teenage daughter (Carrero) stand on either side of a closed door. Life is unraveling for him, and is entirely uncertain for her. So begins Melissa James Gibson's poignant, funny new play about estrangement and the partially examined life.

Atlantic ensemble member Chris Bauer stars as "Detective Andy Bellefleur" in HBO's hit series "True Blood" and is known for his role as union boss "Frank Sobotka" on the long running HBO series "The Wire." He returns to Atlantic following starring in Jezz Butterworth's hit plays The Night Heron, Parlour Song and Mojo. He made his Broadway debut in A Streetcar Named Desire, for which he was nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award.

Aimee Carrero makes her Off Broadway and Atlantic debut. She currently stars on the Cartoon Network live-action series "Level Up," and has appeared on the Disney series "Hannah Montana" and in the Lifetime movie "Blue Lagoon: The Awakening." Seana Kofoed last appeared on the Atlantic stage in The Bald Soprano and has appeared on Broadway in Proof and Night Must Fall.Da'Vine Joy Randolph received a 2012 Tony Award® nomination for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical for her Broadway debut performance in Ghost.

Playwright Melissa James Gibson makes her Atlantic Theater Company debut following her acclaimed Susan Smith Blackburn Prize finalist play This playing Off-Broadway. She received an Obie Award for her play [sic], and the prestigious 2011 Steinberg Playwright Award for her body of work. Gibson wrote the screenplay for the Untitled Christmas Tree Project, starring Paul Giamatti and Paul Rudd, and is currently a staff writer on the new FX show "The Americans."

Director Daniel Aukin recently staged Joshua Harmon's play Bad Jews and Sam Shepard's Heartless Off-Broadway and 4000 Miles by Amy Herzog at Lincoln Center. This production marks his fifth collaboration with Gibson, after staging her plays This, Current Nobody, [sic] and Suitcase.

Atlantic Theater Company's critically acclaimed production of Olivier Award® winner Simon Stephens play Harper Regan, directed by Gaye Taylor Upchurch and starring Mary McCann, is playing an extended engagement through Sunday, November 4 at the Linda Gross Theater.

The design team for What Rhymes With America will feature scenic design by Laura Jellinek, costume design by Emily Rebholz, lighting design by Matt Frey and original music and sound design by Ryan Rumery.

Atlantic Theater Company AT THE LINDA GROSS THEATER is located at 336 West 20th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues). The production plays Tuesday-Saturday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm, Sunday at 3pm and Sunday at 7pm. Wednesday matinees at 2pm on December 19 and December 26. No Sunday 7pm performances on December 9 and December 23. All tickets are $70.00 and available by calling Ticket Central at 212-279-4200 (www.ticketcentral.com) or at the Atlantic Stage 2 box office at 330 West 16th Street.

For more information, visit www.atlantictheater.org.

Photo Credit: Kevin Thomas Garcia