Atlantic Theater Co. unveils slate

Ethan Coen one-acts, 'Farragut' on schedule

By DAVID ROONEY

Coen

A new trio of one-acts by Ethan Coen, a production of the formerly Broadway-bound “Farragut North” and a revival of Martin McDonagh’s “The Cripple of Inishmaan,” co-produced with the Galway, Ireland-based Druid company, head the 2008-09 slate for Off Broadway’s Atlantic Theater Company.

Doug Hughes (“Doubt”) directs the world premiere of Beau Willimon’s “Farragut North,” which begins previews Oct. 22 for a Nov. 12 opening.

The political drama about the rise and fall of a hotshot press secretary in a tight presidential primary race was initially tipped for Broadway with Mike Nichols rumored to be attached to direct and Jake Gyllenhaal in talks for the lead role. In February, a Rialto run was confirmed for this summer, with Hughes attached to direct and Jeffrey Richards and Jerry Frankel leading the production team. Those producers retain the option of a commercial transfer if the play proves a hit.

News surfaced last fall that Warner Bros. is developing a feature based on the play, with Leonardo DiCaprio and George Clooney eyeing the project as star and director, respectively.

Following his program of one-acts, “Almost an Evening,” which transferred from Atlantic Stage 2 to an extended commercial run, Coen returns to the company’s Chelsea mainstage with “Offices,” three new short comedies about hiring and firing, drudgery, pressures and competition in the workplace. Atlantic artistic director Neil Pepe will stage the playlets next spring.

Last produced at the Public Theater in 1998, McDonagh’s “The Cripple of Inishmaan,” about the arrival in 1934 of filmmaker Robert Flaherty on an island off the west coast of Ireland to shoot “The Man of Aran,” will start previews Dec. 9 for a Dec. 18 opening. Druid a.d. Garry Hynes, who won a Tony for her collaboration with the Atlantic on McDonagh’s “The Beauty Queen of Leenane,” will helm the production.

Season opener at Atlantic Stage 2 will be the world preem of writer-performer David Pittu’s “What’s That Smell: The Music of Jacob Sterling,” a musical satire charting the career of a fictitious theater composer. Previews start Sept. 3, with the opening set for Sept. 10. Pittu last appeared at the Atlantic in Harold Pinter’s “Celebration/The Room” and received Tony nominations in the past two seasons for “LoveMusik” and “Is He Dead?”

In addition to the company’s regular lineup, Atlantic subscribers are being offered deals on tickets to the 20th anniversary revival of Atlantic co-founder David Mamet’s “Speed-the-Plow,” starring Jeremy Piven. Opening Oct. 23, the production marks Pepe’s Broadway directing debut.