Impressionism currently in previews, postpones opening night by two weeks

The World premiere of Impressionism, a new American play by Michael Jacobs, directed by Tony Award-winner Jack O'Brien, currently in previews at the Schoenfeld Theatre, has announced a new official opening date. Previously scheduled to open on 12 Mar 20009, Impressionism will now open on 24 March 2009 at Broadway�s Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre.

"We did not give Jack O'Brien and our extraordinary creative team and company enough time to fully prepare Michael Jacobs's new play for Broadway,� said producer Bill Haber. �Impressionism is a world premiere on Broadway, which has not been work-shopped or played out of town. We are working hard in previews and we need more time to get the show finished for the official opening.�

Impressionism stars Tony Award winners Jeremy Irons and Joan Allen and is directed by Tony Award-winner Jack O'Brien. The cast also features Marsha Mason, Andr� De Shields, Michael T. Weiss, Aaron Lazar, Margarita Levieva and Hadley Delany.

The production marks Allen's first return to Broadway since 'The Heidi Chronicles' in 1989, and Irons' first time on Broadway since 'The Real Thing' in 1984.

Impressionism is the story of a world traveling photojournalist and a New York gallery owner who discover each other and also that there might be an art to repairing broken lives.

The creative team featues Scott Pask (sets), Catherine Zuber (costumes), Natasha Katz (lighting) and Leon Rothenberg (sound).

The play is being produced on Broadway by Ostar Productions, Roy Furman, Stephanie P. McClelland, Chase Mishkin, Thomas Murphy, Jamie deRoy, Broadway Across America, Michael Filerman, Eric Falkenstein, Morris Berchard, Matt Murphy, Philip Geier/Donald R. Keough, Jennifer Manocherian/Wendy Federman, Max OnStage/Hugh Hysell.

Jeremy Irons: Impressionism will be Irons' second appearance on Broadway, he made his Broadway debut in 1984 in Tom Stoppard�s 'The Real Thing' (1984) opposite Glenn Close, winning a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play. London credits include: 'Soldier's Tale' (2004; Old Vic) and 'Embers' (2006; Duke of York), he is to appear later this year in Howard Brenton�s 'Never So Good' at the National in the role of Prime Minister Harold Macmillan. Iron's won an Oscar for the film 'Reversal of Fortune,' and has won two Wmmy Awards, the first for the mini-series 'Elizabeth I' and the second for the series 'The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century.'

Joan Allen won a Tony Award as Best Actress in a Play for her Broadway debut in Lanford Wilson�s 'Burn This' in 1988 and received a Tony Award nomination the following year for Wendy Wasserstein�s 'The Heidi Chronicles.' She received Academy Award nominations for her roles in 'The Contender,' 'The Crucible' and 'Nixon.' Film credits include 'Compromising Positions,' 'Manhunter,' 'Peggy Sue Got Married,' 'All My Sons,' 'The Bourne Supremacy.'

Michael Jacobs has written for Broadway and television. His play, 'Cheaters,' was produced on Broadway in 1978 at the Biltmore Theatre and his next play, 'Getting Along Famously,' was produced Off-Broadway at the Hudson Guild Theatre. His fifteen television series have won the Emmy, People�s Choice, Parent�s Choice and Environmental Media Awards, among others. He produced the movie Quiz Show, which won the NY Film Critics� Circle Award and was nominated for an Academy Award and the Golden Globe for Best Picture in 1994.

Jack O�Brien won Tony Awards for his direction of 'The Coast of Utopia,' 'Henry IV,' and 'Hairspray.' His other work on Broadway includes 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels' (Tony nomination), 'Imaginary Friends,' 'The Invention of Love' (Tony nomination), 'The Full Monty' (Tony nomination), 'More to Love,' 'Getting Away With Murder,' 'Pride�s Crossing,' 'The Little Foxes,' 'Hapgood,' 'Damn Yankees,' 'Two Shakespearean Actors' (Tony nomination), 'Porgy and Bess' (Tony nomination). O�Brien was Artistic Director Emeritus of The Old Globe Theatre, San Diego from 1982 to 2007.