Nettleton, a two-time Emmy winner and a Tony Award nominee (for They Knew What They Wanted), plays a botanist in the new play loosely adapted from Alexandre Dumas' classic novel, "The Black Tulip." The staging includes American theatre royalty of sorts: Tessa Auberjonois (the daughter of actor René Auberjonois) and Prentiss Benajmin (the daughter of Paula Prentiss and Richard Benjamin) are in the troupe. The cast also includes Paul Amodeo and Mitchell Greenberg.
The comedy explores what happens when "two rival plant breeders compete to create the world's first black tulip, egged on by meddling ancestors and spies seeking weapons of mass destruction hidden behind the petunias," according to the announcement.
Giesser directs his own play, presented by Alces Productions LLC. Performances continue to July 17.
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Designers are John C. Scheffler (set), Melanie A. Schmidt (costumes), Aaron Meadow (lighting).
Nettleton's Broadway credits include Stangers, A Streetcar Named Desire, The Wayward Stalk, Silenty Night, Lonely Night, God and Kate Murphy, Darkness at Noon and The Biggest Thief in Town.
Her TV work includes "In the Heat of the Night" (Emmy nomination), "All That Glitters," "Crossing Jordan," "Fear On Trial," "The American Woman" (Emmy Award) and more.
The performance schedule is Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 8 PM; with Saturday matinees at 2 PM and Sundays at 3 & 7 PM.
Theatre Row is at 410 West 42nd Street. Tickets are $55 via TeleCharge.com (212) 239-6200. Student and senior discounts are available at the box office. Visit www.theatrerow.org.
