Jennifer Westfeldt joins Tracy-Ann Oberman in European premiere of 'The Assembled Parties'

The Assembled Parties follows an extended New York Jewish family in a wealthy Upper West Side New York apartment — first in 1980 and 20 years later in 2000.

Summary

• The Assembled Parties makes its European premiere at Hampstead Theatre
• Tony Award nominee Jennifer Westfeldt will make her London stage debut alongside Tracy-Ann Oberman who was recently seen in The Merchant of Venice 1936
• Performances begin at Hampstead Theatre on 17 October

Tony Award nominee Jennifer Westfeldt will make her London stage debut alongside Tracy-Ann Oberman in the European premiere of Richard Greenberg’s The Assembled Parties, which begins performances at Hampstead Theatre on 17 October.

The Assembled Parties follows an extended New York Jewish family in a wealthy Upper West Side New York apartment — first in 1980 and 20 years later in 2000.

Best known for her starring role in the hit film Kissing Jessica Stein, Westfeldt received a Tony Award nomination for her performance in Wonderful Town. Oberman recently starred as Shylock in The Merchant of Venice 1936 in the West End and her screen credits include EastEnders, Friday Night Dinner, Toast of London, and It’s A Sin.

Westfeldt said: “I can’t possibly express how honoured I feel to be playing ‘Julie' in Richard Greenberg’s brilliant, beautiful play, The Assembled Parties. To have the opportunity to dig into a character with as much light and ebullience and wit and compassion and deep, visceral humanity as she has... is a precious gift.

“Richard Greenberg’s gorgeous play — and indeed, his entire body of work — is filled with sparkling wit, a symphony of glorious words and rhythms, and an uncanny depth of feeling that somehow never becomes maudlin.

“Working on this play feels like an absolute dream come true for me. And to be a small part of bringing this play to London for the first time feels like a double blessing.”

Also joining the cast are Daniel Abelson (In Praise of Love, Machinal), Julia Kass (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), David Kennedy (Days of Significance), Alexander Marks who is making his professional stage debut, and Sam Marks (The Fever Syndrome). Young actors Rex Bamber and Maxwell Rich share the role of young Timmy.

Director Blanche McIntyre said: “I am thrilled to be able to direct this exquisite, sparkling, profound masterpiece by one of America’s most brilliant and insightful playwrights. At a time when the world feels increasingly unstable, it is a pleasure to work on a piece that speaks so tenderly about the bonds of family and the passing of time, and beyond exciting to have our dazzling, internationally renowned cast bringing it to life. I look forward enormously to presenting its European premiere.”

The creative team also includes designer James Cotteril, lighting designer Malcolm Rippeth, and sound designer John Leonard.

Book The Assembled Parties tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Photo credit: Jennifer Westfeldt. (Courtesy of production)