Theater News

Jennifer Westfeldt, John McMartin, and More Set for Manhattan Theatre Club’s Premiere of The Explorer’s Club

The new comedy by Nell Benjamin will also feature Carson Elrod and Arnie Burton.

Jennifer Westfeldt
Jennifer Westfeldt
(© David Gordon)

Full casting has been announced for the world premiere of The Explorer’s Club, a new play by Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde), to be directed by Marc Bruni (Old Jews Telling Jokes). Previews begin on April 30 with an opening on May 28 at New York City Center — Stage 1. The limited engagement is set to run through June 20.

The Manhattan Theatre Club production will star Tony Award nominee Jennifer Westfeldt (Wonderful Town), Tony Award nominee John McMartin (Anything Goes), Drama Desk Award winner Lorenzo Pisoni (Humor Abuse), Carson Elrod (All in the Timing), Arnie Burton (Peter and the Starcatcher), Brian Avers (Rock ‘n’ Roll), Max Baker (Cyrano de Bergerac), Steven Boyer (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes), and David Furr (The Importance of Being Earnest).

The Explorers Club is described by MTC as a madcap comedy taking place in 1879 London. “The prestigious Explorers Club is in crisis: Their acting president (Lorenzo Pisoni) wants to admit a woman (Jennifer Westfeldt), and their bartender is terrible. True, this 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?”

The creative team for The Explorers Club includes Donyale Werle (scenic design), Anita Yavich (costume design), Philip S. Rosenberg (lighting design), Darron L. West (sound design), Laurence O’Keefe (original music), Tom Watson (hair and wig design), and Angelina Avallone (makeup design).

The Explorers Club is a recipient of an Edgerton Foundation New American Plays Award.

Under the leadership of Artistic Director Lynne Meadow and Executive Producer Barry Grove, Manhattan Theatre Club has become one of the country’s most prominent and prestigious theater companies. Over the past three decades, MTC productions have earned a total of 18 Tony Awards and six Pulitzer Prizes, an accomplishment unparalleled by a New York theatrical institution.

For tickets and more information about The Explorers Club, click here.

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The Explorers Club

Closed: August 4, 2013