Transport Group in partnership with National Asian American Theatre Company (NAATCO) has announced that Edward Albee’s A Delicate Balance, directed by Transport Group Artistic Director Jack Cummings III, will begin performances Saturday, October 22 at the Connelly Theater, 220 East 4 Street. The opening is set for Sunday, November 6 at 3pm.
This production is the first Off-Broadway revival of Albee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, as well as the first production to feature a full cast of Asian-American actors.
In Edward Albee’s A Delicate Balance, Agnes and Tobias are a complacent middle-aged couple with a hanger-on of a house guest—Agnes’ alcoholic sister Claire. But when longtime friends Harry and Edna appear on their doorstep claiming a nameless “fear” has forced them from their home coincides with their four-times divorced daughter Julia’s moving home, their daily balance is shattered. Though Agnes and Tobias attempt to regain control, that may no longer be possible.
The cast of Edward Albee’s A Delicate Balance features Tina Chilip, Carmen M. Herlihy, Paul Juhn, Mia Katigbak, Manu Narayan, and Rita Wolf.
This is the second collaboration between Transport Group and NAATCO who first partnered on Jack Cummings III’s adaptation of The Trial of the Catonsville Nine in 2019.
“Partnering with NAATCO again after our successful The Trial of The Catonsville Nine production has been a goal of mine for years. Edward Albee’s A Delicate Balance is a timeless classic and yet our production will be historic as we’re prioritizing NAATCO’s mission of re-examining the canon with Asian-American representation,” said Cummings.
Actor-Manager and NAATCO Co-Founder Mia Katigbak said, “NAATCO’s partnership with Transport Group on Edward Albee’s A Delicate Balance exemplifies our work of joining forces with non-Asian American companies in our efforts to radically change the persistently narrow representation of Asian Americans in the theatre. That this was Jack’s idea, his initiative to cultivate a relationship with NAATCO that began in 2016, is meaningful to me. I have always maintained that new insights about old works can come from unexpected faces, and this blends seamlessly with Transport Group’s reenvisioning of 20th century American works in unconventional productions.”The scenic design for Edward Albee’s A Delicate Balance is by Peiyi Wong; costume design by Mariko Ohigashi; lighting design is by R. Lee Kennedy; casting by Stephanie Yankwitt, tbd casting co. and Andrea Zee, Zee Casting. The production manager is Chris Luner; the stage manager is Kevin Zhu.
