Tony Lo Bianco to Star in Off-Broadway Production of Martin Halpern’s What the Babe Said and Joint Return

Stage and screen star Tony Lo Bianco will star in the upcoming Off-Broadway double-header What the Babe Said and Joint Return, two plays by Martin Halpern to be directed by John Tillinger. Jeff Britton will present the one-acts, which will open in 2013 at a theater to be announced.

In What The Babe Said, Lo Bianco plays Sal Salerno, baseball manager at odds with his veteran center fielder for failing to hustle like he should in the Major Leagues. In Joint Return, he plays Ben, an author and college professor visiting his estranged wife at their former New England home to complete their final tax return. Additional casting will be revealed in the near future.

Lo Bianco received a Tony Award nomination for his performance in the 1983 revival of A View from the Bridge. He has appeared on Broadway as Fiorello LaGuardia in Hizzoner!, and won an Obie for his performance in Yanks-3, Detroit-0, Top of the Seventh. His film credits include The Honeymoon Killers, The French Connection, and many others.

Halpern’s play What the Babe Said premiered at Circle Repertory Company in 1977. His plays also include Total Recall, The Headhunter, and Magic Fire, among others. Tillinger recently directed Roundabout Theatre Company’s revival of Don’t Dress for Dinner.