George Street Playhouse to Present The Pillowman

The George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick will present the New Jersey premiere of Martin McDonagh’s The Pillowman, February 21-March 19. The production will be directed by Will Frears; casting and the rest of the creative team will be announced shortly. The play replaces William Mastrosimone’s The Afghan Women, which had been announced for that slot in the George Street schedule.

McDonagh’s dark comedy concerns Katurian, a writer in an unnamed totalitarian state who is questioned by the police for his possible role in the murders of three young children — crimes that mirror those in his short stories. Also implicated in the crimes is his mentally challenged brother, Michal. The show played on Broadway from April 10 through September 18, 2005 in a production that starred Billy Crudup, Jeff Goldblum, Zjelko Ivanek, and Michael Stuhlbarg, directed by John Crowley. It was nominated for six Tony Awards and won two for Best Lighting Design and Best Set Design.

Coming up more immediately at George Street is the comedy Inspecting Carol (November 29-December 31), directed by David Saint and starring Dan Lauria, Peter Scolari, and Catherine Cox . The show will also feature several celebrities in cameo appearances during its run, including a special appearance by former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman on December 3.