Annie-B Parson and Paul Lazar Join Mikhail Baryshnikov for Hartford Stage's MAN IN A CASE; Full Cast Announced!

Hartford Stage, under the leadership of Artistic Director Darko Tresnjak and Managing Director Michael Stotts, today announced the cast of the world premiere stage adaptation of Anton Chekhov's Man in a Case, featuring Mikhail Baryshnikov, on stage from February 21 through March 24. Press night is at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 27. Opening night is at 8 p.m. Friday, March 1.

Annie-B Parson and Paul Lazar, the team behind the internationally acclaimed Big Dance Theater, bring their signature style - fusing theater, movement, music, and video - to this world premiere adaptation of Anton Chekov's 1898 short story, "Man in a Case." In a tale both witty and haunting, a shy, reclusive man's courtship of a carefree young woman forces him to stare down his own rigid nature.

The cast of Man in a Case will include Mikhail Baryshnikov, who appeared on Broadway in Metamorphosis (Tony Award-nomination and a Drama Critics Award). Off-Broadway credits include In Paris (Ely and Edyth Broad Stage, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Lincoln Center Festival and 2011-12 International Tour), Beckett Shorts (New York Theatre Workshop) and Forbidden Christmas or The Doctor and the Patient (Lincoln Center Festival). He has appeared in the films White Nights, The Cabinet of Dr. Ramirez, Company Business and The Turning Point (Oscar nomination, Best Supporting Actor). Awards include: Kennedy Center Honors, the National Medal of Honor, The Commonwealth Award, the Chubb Fellowship, the Jerome Robbins Award and rank of Officer of the French Legion of Honor. He is the Artistic Director of the Baryshnikov Arts Center in New York. The cast of Man in a Case will also include Jess Barbagallo, Tymberly Canale, Chris Giarmo and Aaron Mattocks. Jess Barbagallo has performed withBig Dance Theater, Theater of a Two-Headed Calf and The Builders Association, and credits include Fiabe Italiane (John Turturro), An Oresteia (Paul Lazar/Brian Kulick) and MilkMilkLemonade (John Conkel/The Management). Tymberly Canale has been a collaborator and performer with Big Dance Theater since 1995 and recently portrayed Euripedes' Queen Alkestis in Big Dance Theater's Supernatural Wife. Chris Giarmo is an artist and designer who has performed with Big Dance Theater since 2005 and recently performed in and composed choral music for Big Dance Theater's Supernatural Wife. Aaron Mattocks is an associate artist with Big Dance Theater, a puppeteer with Phantom Limb Company and has been a member of OtherShore since 2009.

For tickets call Hartford Stage at 860.527.5151 or visit hartfordstage.org.

Hartford Stage, since its founding in 1963, has been known for innovative revivals of classics and the development of important new works, including 65 World or American premieres. Recent work includes Quiara Alegria Hudes'Water by the Spoonful, winner of the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Drama; Horton Foote'sThe Orphans' Home Cyclewhich had a celebrated run at the Signature Theatre in New York during the 2009-2010 season; a landmark production of Harper Lee'sTo Kill a Mockingbird;the premieres of Michael Kramer'sDivine Rivalry;and Daniel Beaty'sResurrection (later retitledThrough the Night,which had a successful run off-Broadway during the 2010-11 season). In 1998 the theatre launched an unprecedented ten-year retrospective of Tennessee Williams, which included the premiere of three plays. Other new work includes the premieres of Eve Ensler'sNecessary Targets, Edward Albee'sAt Home at the Zoo,Matthew Barber'sEnchanted April(which transferred to Broadway), Matthew Lombardo'sTea at Five, and many others. The theatre has earned numerous distinguished honors, including a Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre, the Margo Jones Award, OBIE awards, New York Critics Circle and Drama Desk awards. In 2005 Hartford Stage was awarded The Hartford Courant's Tapestry Award recognizing its outstanding work in diversity, and in 2008 it was awarded the Bank of America Neighborhood Builder's Award recognizing its excellence in building community in Greater Hartford. Hartford Stage is currently under the leadership of Artistic Director Darko Tresnjak and Managing Director Michael Stotts.