Acclaimed American playwright Michael Weller, author of Broadway’s Moonchildren, Loose Ends, and Spoils of War, as well as the film adaptations of Hair and the Academy Award-nominated Ragtime, brings this World Premiere comedy to New Rep’s stage.

A comic drama on the negotiation of life in a Post-9/11 world, Approaching Moomtaj takes place four months after the tragic events. We are introduced to Walker Dance, an aggressive and highly-successful consultant living with his family in Brooklyn. In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks, Walker begins to reevaluate his upper middle class family existence and marriage. After a visit from his eccentric, slacker half-brother, Wylie (and his mysterious but forbidden computer), Walker is led on a virtual adventure through the looking glass to the outrageous, seductive, and dangerous Kingdom of Moomtaj. This humorous and poignant World Premiere explores how tragic world events affect the lives of everyday people and the choices we make on the way to personal and spiritual fulfillment. Approaching Moomtaj asks the question “what is the way to true bliss?” Featuring Thomas Derrah as Wylie and Robert Prescott as Walker.

Hospitalty Partner:

by Michael Weller
WORLD PREMIERE

September 15 - October 17, 2004

Directed by Rick Lombardo**

Janie E. Howland, scenic design
Frances Nelson McSherry, costume design
Daniel Meeker, lighting design
Haddon Kime, original music
Robert Walsh, violence design
Haddon Kime & Rick Lombardo**, sound design
Cheryl D. Olszowka*, production stage manager
Thomas Derrah*, fight captain

CAST (in order of appearance)
Walker Dance/Sir William Powers, Robert Prescott*
Kelly Dance/Queen Aunt Noor, Rachel Harker*
A Bakht, Kevin Topka
Faith Cherubini/Fatma, Natalie Brown*
Madeline/Mawan, Lordan Napoli*
Josh Dance/Boy, Jacob Aaron Brandt
Wylie Dance/Sufi Sid, Thomas Derrah*

Place:
New York City and the Kingdom of Moomtaj

Time:
Several Months after September 11, 2001

*Member of Actors Equity Association
**Member of Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers

Read More about Approaching Moomtaj: A Fairytale for Grownups:
A Conversation with Michael Weller
A Conversation with Thomas Derrah