Benefactors, by Michael Frayn, at the Clurman Theatre

The Keen Company will present Michael Frayn's Benefactors, opening at Theatre Row's Clurman Theater on 5 Apr 2011, following previews from 22 Mar, and running through to 30 Apr 2011.

Directed by Carl Forsman, Benefactors features Obie-winner Vivienne Benesch (Going to St. Ives), Tony-nominee Daniel Jenkins (Big River), Deanne Lorette (La Bete) and Stephen Barker Turner.

Benefactors, a poignant look at marriage and friendship, is about an architect charged with building a major development and the project's impact on his family and friends.

The design team includes Josh Bradford (lighting), Dane Laffrey (set), Jennifer Paar (costume) and Will Pickens (sound).

Benefactors is the Keen's Company second Michael Frayn play this season. They produced the playwrights 'Alphabetical Order' at the Clurman Theatre Theatre from 14 Sep - 23 Oct 2010.

Carl Forsman sais, "I was thrilled that there was such a large audience for 'Alphabetical Order' this spring - I never expected an unknown thirty-five year old play to be the biggest hit in Keen Company's history, but it was, and I believe it ran so strongly because it had such a big heart and enormous generosity about the struggling folks it depicted. Benefactors is an altogether more serious play; a deeper, more nuanced picture of humanity. But it shares with 'Alphabetical Order' Frayn's benevolent view that people really do try, in their own, flawed ways, to do the best they can by their fellows. Mr. Frayn has commented to me that he believes it is his best work, and I look forward to tackling it with these wonderful actors."