The Pitmen Painters: Tickets now on sale

London's National Theatre's production of The Pitmen Painters

Tickets are now on sale to the general public for the American premiere of The Pitmen Painters, opening at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on 30 Sep 2010, following previews from 14 Sep.

Manhattan Theatre Club, by special arrangement with Bob Boyett, will produce the Live Theatre, Newcastle /National Theatre of Great Britain’s co-production of The Pitmen Painters by Tony Award winner Lee Hall (Billy Elliot) with direction by Max Roberts starring the original English company.

The cast, who have been with the production since its premiere, stars Christopher Connel, Michael Hodgson, Ian Kelly, Brian Lonsdale, Lisa McGrillis, Deka Walmsley, David Whitaker and Phillippa Wilson.

The play, which had its world premiere at the UK's Live Theatre in Newcastle upon Tyne in Sep 2007, performed at London's National Theatre from 19 May 08 to 25 Jun 08, and again from 27 Jan 09 to 14 Apr 09.

The Pitmen Painters: In 1934, a group of Ashington miners hired a professor to teach an art appreciation evening class. Rapidly abandoning theory in favour of practice, the pitmen began to paint. Within a few years the most avant-garde artists became their friends and their work was acquired by prestigious collections; but every day they worked, as before, down the mine.

The show opened in London to critical acclaim "Full of warm, gritty humour...deeply engaging and attractively acted production" (Independent); "tragic, funny and illuminating in one fell swoop of energy" (Evening Standard); "a riveting social document and an invigorating political war-cry" (Guardian); "Ablaze – with intellectual vigour, political passion and incendiary emotional energy" (The Times).

The Pitmen Painters features scenic and costume design by Gary McCann, lighting design by Douglas Kuhrt, and sound design by Martin Hodgson.

The comic-drama will mark the first production of Manhattan Theatre Club’s 2010-2011 season.

Playwright Lee Hall wrote the book and lyrics for the musical "Billy Elliot" for which he recently won two Tony Awards. Hall received BIFA Award for Best Screenplay; two BAFTA nominations for Best Newcomer and Best Screenplay; and an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay. He is currently working on a play for the National Theatre; a new musical with Elton John; 'The Wall – the Musical' with Roger Waters; and a film about the director Douglas Sirk for Paramount.

Max Roberts (Director) is Artistic Director and founding member of Live Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne. The productions he has directed for the company include 'The Long Line,' 'Yesterday’s Children,' 'Long Shadows,' 'The Filleting Machine' and 'Seafarers' by Tom Hadaway; 'A Nightingale Sang,' 'Operation Elvis' and 'Bandits' by CP Taylor; 'Close the Coalhouse Door,' 'Going Home,' 'Shooting the Legend,' 'Tales from the Backyard,' and 'Charlie’s Trousers' by Alan Plater and many more.

christopher connel (Oliver Kilbourn) is native to Newcastle upon Tyne. His previous appearances at Live Theatre include: 'You Really Couldn't Make It Up' (playing Alan Shearer); 'Stuart in the premiere of Cooking with Elvis' and 'Colin in Toast.' Other theatre includes: 'Shooting The Legend' at Theatre Royal, Newcastle; 'Cooking With Elvis,' 'Bouncers,' 'Studs,' 'Up on Roof,' and' A Kick in the Baubles' for Hull Truck.

Michael Hodgson (Harry Wilson) trained at LAMDA. His work in theatre includes 'A Christmas Carol' and Noir for Northern Stage, 'Accidental Death of an Anarchist' at Bolton Octagon; 'Bones' at Hampstead Theatre; 'My Last Barmaid monologue 'for Theatre Royal, Newcastle/Live Theatre; 'The Miser' at Salisbury Playhouse;' Studs' and 'Like a Virgin' for Hull Truck, amongst many others.

Ian Kelly (Robert Lyon). Actor and writer Ian Kelly is the author of this year's Sunday Times Biography of the Year, 'Casanova and of Beau Brummell' (shortlisted for the Marsh Biography Prize and adapted as a BBC TV film) and 'Cooking for Kings,' the biography of Napoleon’s chef, 'Careme,' which became a New York stage play and Channel 4 documentary.

Brian Lonsdale (Young Lad & Ben Nicholson) graduated from RADA in 2004. His work in theatre includes:'The Boy on the Swing' at Live; 'Bedroom Farce' at West Yorkshire Playhouse; 'Jason and the Argonauts' and 'George and the Dragon' both for Schtanhause, national tour; and 'The Dong with the Luminous Nose' for London Bubble.

Lisa McGrillis' (Susan Parks)' work in theatre includes 'Sock in the Wash' and 'Nicole Most Famous' at Live Theatre; 'Gretel' in 'Hansel and Gretel,' 'Tattercoats' and 'Impropantso 'for Northern Stage; 'Boston Marriage' for Arc Stockton; 'Tonic' for Open Clasp;' Strings' and 'In Wonderland' at the Edinburgh Festival.

Deka Walmsley's (George Brown) theatre credits includes 'Geoff Dead: Disco for Sale' at Live Theatre Newcastle; 'Playing with Fire' at the National; 'Cyrano de Bergerac' at Bristol Old Vic; 'Sing Yer Heart Out for the Lads' for Pilot Theatre on national tour; 'Enemies' at the Almeida; 'Home: Shetland' for National Theatre of Scotland; 'Mulgrave,' 'News from the 7th Floor' and 'Mapping the Edge' for Wilson & Wilson amongst others.

David Whitaker (Jimmy Floyd) is one of the founder members of Live Theatre, Newcastle, where his work includes 'Laughter When We’re Dead,' 'A Nightingale Sang,' 'Bandits,' 'Close the Coalhouse Door,' 'Bring Me Sunshine,' 'The Grass House,' 'Some Enchanted Evening,' 'Hangin About,' 'I Knew Him Horatio' and 'Northern Glory.'

Phillippa Wilson's work in theatre includes 'Twelve Tales of Tyneside,' 'Here I Come,' 'The Beautiful Game,' 'Oh What a Lovely War,' 'Bandits,' 'Some Like It Cold,' 'For The Crack' and '1990' at Live Theatre.

Live Theatre was founded in 1978 and situated on Newcastle upon Tyne’s quayside, Live Theatre is recognised as one of the UK’s leading new writing theatres, gaining a reputation for the way it finds, nurtures and develops talent for stage, radio, film and television.

The National Theatre of Great Britain was founded in 1963 and established on the South Bank in 1976. In its three theatres, it presents an eclectic mix of new plays and classics, with seven or eight productions in repertory at any one time.