Steven Boyer, Richard Easton and More Set for Manhattan Theatre Club's THE EXPLORERS CLUB, May 2013

Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director), Barry Grove (Executive Producer), and Mandy Greenfield (Artistic Producer) have announced that THE EXPLORERS CLUB, the world premiere comedy by Tony nominee Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde), will be directed by Marc Bruni (Ordinary Days, Old Jews Telling Jokes) featuring Obie Award winner Steven Boyer and Tony Award winner Richard Easton.

In addition, single tickets are on sale now for all three Manhattan Theatre Club productions at New York City Center – Stage I (131 West 55th Street): GOLDEN AGE, THE MADRID, and THE EXPLORERS CLUB. Tickets for these three limited engagements can be purchased at via CityTix (212-581-1212), www.nycitycenter.org, and at the New York City Center Box Office.

THE EXPLORERS CLUB will Mark Easton’s second appearance as a part of MTC’s 2012-2013 season. This fall, he will appear as Rossini in MTC’s upcoming New York premiere of GOLDEN AGE. Easton received a 2001 Tony for Best Actor in a Play for The Invention of Love. Steven Boyer received a 2012 Obie Award for his performance in Hand to God. In THE EXPLORERS CLUB, Easton will play Professor Sloane and Boyer will play Professor Walling, both members of the Explorers Club.

THE EXPLORERS CLUB will begin previews on Tuesday, May 14 and open Tuesday, June 4.

A new madcap comedy from Tony-nominated writer Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde) and director Marc Bruni (Ordinary Days, Old Jews Telling Jokes).

London, 1879. The prestigious Explorers Club faces the worst crisis in their history: their acting president wants to admit a woman, and their bartender is terrible. True, the female candidate is brilliant, beautiful, and has discovered a legendary Lost City, but the decision to let in a woman could shake the very foundation of the British Empire, and how do you make such a decision without a decent drink? Grab your safety goggles for some very mad science involving deadly cobras, irate Irishmen, and the occasional airship.

THE EXPLORERS CLUB is a recipient of an Edgerton Foundation New American Plays Award.

Additional casting and creative team for THE EXPLORERS CLUB will be announced shortly.

GOLDEN AGE, the new play by four-time Tony Award winner Terrence McNally, directed by Tony winner Walter Bobbie will start previews Tuesday, November 13 and open Tuesday, December 4. In addition to Easton, the cast will also feature Dierdre Friel, Coco Monroe, two-time Emmy and two-time Tony Award winner Bebe Neuwirth, Emmy Award nominee Lee Pace, Ethan Phillips, Lorenzo Pisoni, Will Rogers, and Eddie Kaye Thomas.

Its opening night of Vincenzo Bellini's (Emmy Award nominee Lee Pace) new opera I Puritani in Paris, and the Italian composer is determined to win the adulation of not only his audience, but his colleagues and rivals as well. When the curtain falls, will a thunderous ovation cement his prominence? Or has Bellini unwittingly composed his own swan song?

Blending 21st century language with the timeless beauty of 19th century bel canto opera, Terrence McNally's new play, portrays the final act of an artist whose desire for greatness has eclipsed all else.