For Immediate Release November 14, 1975 NEWS Press Contacts: Kate ttacintyre, or Deborah Ann Williams, 636-4123. BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC 30 LAFAYETTE AVE. BK LYN, N.Y 11 2 17 PRESS OFFICE PHONE: (212) 636-4123

S't-JEET BIRD OF YOUTH COt1ES TO BAM

Irene Worth and Christopher Walken will star in Tennessee Williams' SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH at the Brooklyn Academy of Music on December 2-14. This production, part of the Kennedy Center-Xerox Corporation American Bicentennial Theatre, will open BAM's completely refurbished and renovated Playhouse. Williams' play, which premiered on Broadway in 1959, shows what he has called "individuals trapped by circumstance" in decadence and corruption •

lJinner of Broadway's Tony Award for Tiny Alice and Britian's Best Actress Awards for Stage, Screen, and Television, Irene Worth will be playing the role of Princess Kosmonopolis, a glamorous actress traveling incognito to escape her • failing Hollywood career. Though born in America, Miss Worth has played numerous leading roles as a member of The Old Vic, the Royal Shakespeare Company, and 's International Theatre Company. She also starred in numerous productions in , on Broadway, and Off-Broadway, as well as having co-founded the Stratford, Ontario Shakespeare Festival.

Christopher Walken co-stars as Chance Wayne, a traveling masseur who will try almost anything to become a movie star. The young Obie Award winner has played the title roles in the New York Shakespeare Festival's productions of "Kid Champion" and "Macbeth".

This production, which includes a large supporting cast headed by Pat Corley and Cathryn Damon, is di1:ected by Edwin Sherin. Mr. Sherin has also directed "" on stage and screen, and Tennessee Williams' latest play, "The Red Devil Battery Sign" . Sets for the production are designed by Karl Eigsti, lighting by Ken Billington, and costumes by Laura Crow .

BAM's American Theatre Series includes productions of THE ROYAL FAMILY December 16-28, also in the Playhouse and A LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT January 27-February 8 in the Opera House. SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH is produced for The American Bicentennail Theatre by Roger L. Stevens and Richmond Crinkley in association with The Academy Festival Theatre of Lake Forest, Illinois •

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Curtain time for December 2, 4-6, 9-13 is 8:00pm, press night curtain December 3 is at 7:00pm. Saturday and Sunday matinees are at 2:00pm and Sunday evening performances are at 7:30pm.

Tickets, $7.50 and $5.00 for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday performances, and $8.50 and $5.50 for weekend performances are available at the B~l Box Office, A&S, Bloomingdale's, Ticketron, and Broadway's Edison Theatre. Youth/Senior Citizen rush tickets are $2.50. For further information, group rates, and Amex phone reservations, 636-4100 .

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