Best Film: The Social Network
While rumors swirl about whether Jesse Eisenberg will re-team with his “Squid and the Whale” director, Noah Baumbach, for a new film, that much-in-demand “Social Network” star has confirmed another project that will require more than the minimum amount of his attention.
Mr. Eisenberg, who was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance as the Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg in “The Social Network,” will have his play “Asuncion” presented by Rattlestick Playwrights Theater as part of its 2011-12 season and will be part of its cast, the theater company said on Thursday.
Mr. Eisenberg’s play chronicles two friends – Edgar, who keeps a blog that condemn American imperialism, and Vinny, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in black studies – whose self-perceived open-mindedness is put to the test when a Filipina woman named Asuncion becomes their roommate. Mr. Eisenberg will portray Edgar (the blogger, of course) and Kip Fagan will direct the play, which will be presented at the Cherry Lane Theater. Performances are to begin on Oct. 12 with an opening night scheduled for Oct. 27; additional cast members are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
The theater company’s season will open with a new play by Dan Klores, the publicist turned filmmaker and playwright, about Mike McAlary, the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and columnist. This play, tentatively titled “The Wood,” will be directed by David Bar Katz. Performances are to begin at the Rattlestick’s regular home on Aug. 31, opening night is Sept. 8.
Other productions planned for the coming season include “Horsedreams” by Dael Orlandersmith, about a family dealing with addiction issues (opening Nov. 17); “Yosemite,” by Daniel Talbott, about three siblings in the Sierra Nevada woods (opening Jan. 26); “Massacre (Sing to the Children)” by José Rivera, about friends planning a murder in a small New Hampshire town (opening April 12); and “3C” by David Adjmi, a black comedy about a Vietnam veteran and the two women whose kitchen he wakes up in after a hard-partying evening (opening June 14).
Jul
/ June 2, 2011So very, very happy about this.
I won’t pretend to be familiar with plays as an art form… actually the only times I could recall of walking inside a theatre I can probably count on one hand… but I’m glad anyway. This is Jesse’s own project and his own creation. That somehow makes it all the more significant.
Wonder how his scheduling is going to work out though. Won’t there be a certain amount of conflict if he’s also joining Baumbach’s While We’re Young this year? From the speculations around it sounded like they’re really eager for shooting to begin once they have all the cast on that project….
cecille
/ June 2, 2011I prefer musicals to plays but I am really happy for Jesse.
Granted it is off-Broadway and will be staged in a small theatre (just less than a hundred seats I read somewhere), this is definitely a big deal for him. Come on, starring in a play which he wrote himself while still managing a film career?!?
I’m really at awe with him. For some time I thought he was just joking when he mentioned writing plays in interviews. But here it is. I mean what’s next, Jesse? A book? Art exhibit? An album?
@JuL – I think he may have to let go of the Noah Baumbach film unless the people involved in that are willing to work around Jesse’s schedule for this play but I highly doubt that.
But it’s OK, to support one’s art, sacrifices may have to be made. Natalie Portman let go of a big role in a Robert Redford film to do a play, and it’s worked out fine for her. I’m sure it’ll work out for the best