Brighton Beach Memoirs & Broadway Bound: Broadway revivals to star Laurie Metcalf

The New York Times reports that Laurie Metcalf will star as 'Kate Jerome' in producer Emanuel Azenberg Broadway revivels of Neil Simon's plays' Brighton Beach Memoirs and Broadway Bound is to be directed by David Cromer.

Laurie Metcalf last appeared on Broadway when she starred oppsite Nathan Lane in Mamet's 'November' (2007) for which she was nominated for a Tony for Best Performance By a Featured Actress, she made her Broadway debut in 'My Thing Of Love' (1995). Metcalf is best known for her performance as 'Jackie Harris' in TV's 'Roseanne', for which she won three Emmy Awards; she was also nominated for an Emmy for her guest appearances as 'Carolyn Bigsby' in TV's 'Desperate Housewives'.

Brighton Beach Memoirs and Broadway Bound will mark director David Cromer's Broadway debut. The chicago based director helmed the off-Broadway production of the musical 'Adding Machine,' which played to critical acclaim at the Minetta Lane Theatre from 9 Feb - 20 Jul 2008, and is currently represented off-Broadway the Chicago production of Thornton Wilder's 'Our Town' playing at the Barrow Street Theatre.

Brighton Beach Memoirs and Broadway Bound will be gin previews on Broadway in Sep 2009. The two related comedys are to be performed in repertoire. Casting, creative team, schedule and theatre are still to be announced.

In Brighton Beach Memoirs, set in 1937, Eugene is 15 years old, in Broadway Bound, set in 1949, Eugene is 23 years old. The notice is looking for actor who can convincingly play both ages.

Brighton Beach Memoirs was first performed on Broadway in 1983, directed by Gene Saks. Matthew Broderick made his Broadway debut in the comedy, playing the role of Eugene Jerome.

Broadway Bound was first performed on Broadway in 1986, again directed by Gene Saks. This time Jonathan Silverman played the role of Eugene Jerome, having made his Broadway debut when he replaced Matthew Broderick in Brighton Beach Memoirs.

The two plays are part of a trilogy of plays known collectively as the 'Eugene Trilogy.' The second play in the trilogy 'Biloxi Blues' is not being revived.

The plays are semi-autobiographical with the character Eugene Jerome based roughly on Neil Simon. Brighton Beach Memoirs tells of his adolescence in New York City and Broadway Bound tells of his career as an aspiring comedy playwright.