Actor Vincent Kartheiser, best known as ad man Pete Campbell on TV's "Mad Men," will take on one of the two lead roles in Billy & Ray, Mike Bencivenga's comedy about the birth of film noir, in the play's New York premiere at Off-Broadway's Vineyard Theatre.
Broadway veteran Larry Pine (Casa Valentina, Angels in America, Private Lives) will co-star as Raymond Chandler. Rounding out the cast will be Sophie von Haselberg (The Cat and the Canary) as Wilder's long-suffering secretary and Drew Gehling (Jersey Boys) as a studio head.
The comedic period piece recounts the conflict between director Billy Wilder and author Raymond Chandler over the making of Wilder's 1944 film "Double Indemnity."
The New York premiere is Marshall's first New York directing credit in 20 years. The 79-year-old is best known for directing films including "The Flamingo Kid," "Beaches," "Pretty Woman" and "The Princess Diaries" and creating TV's "Laverne and Shirley" starring his sister Penny Marshall.
Marshall helmed Billy & Ray's world premiere last year at the Falcon Theatre in Burbank.
Prior to "Mad Men" Kartheiser had a recurring role as Connor in "Angel," Joss Whedon's "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" spinoff. He has also had major roles in Larry Clark's "Another Day in Paradise" and "Crime and Punishment in Suburbia." His most recent appearance on stage was as Mr. Darcy in an adaptation of Pride and Prejudice at the Guthrie Theater in his hometown of Minneapolis.
Previews for Billy & Ray begin October 1 prior to an October 20 opening.
© 2024 Classicalite All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
