Ken Barnett, Jefferson Mays to Lead A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER at the Old Globe

The Old Globe today announced the complete cast and creative team for the world premiere of A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, a new musical comedy with book by Robert L. Freedman, music by Steven Lutvak and lyrics by Freedman and Lutvak. Former Old Globe Co-Artistic Director Darko Tresnjak returns to the Globe to direct the production. Based on the novel Israel Rank by Roy Horniman, the musical also features choreography by Peggy Hickey. A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder will run March 8 - April 14, 2013 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Preview performances run March 8 - March 12. Opening night is Wednesday, March 13 at 7:00 p.m. A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder is a co-production with Hartford Stage. Single tickets go on sale Sunday, Feb. 3 at 12 noon. Tickets can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park.

When Monty Navarro, the black sheep of the D'Ysquith family, finds out he is ninth in line to inherit a dukedom, he decides to eliminate the other eight heirs standing in his way - all played by Tony Award winner Jefferson Mays (I Am My Own Wife). Set in England's elegant Edwardian era, this witty music hall comedy was proclaimed "gorgeous, funny and melodious" by the Harford Courant. Named one of the top 10 "Hottest Tickets of the Year" by The New York Times, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder explores how low we'll go to make it to the top.

"I know that this beguiling and very funny new musical will delight Globe audiences," said Artistic Director Barry Edelstein. "The remarkable team of Robert L. Freedman and Steven Lutvak has crafted a show that is sharp, surprising and entertaining, and at its helm is the great Darko Tresnjak, an old friend I'm delighted to welcome back to the Globe. Darko's partners in crime are the stellar Ken Barnett and Jefferson Mays, two of the most exciting stage actors in America, whose deft and hilarious performances are real tours de force."

Ken Barnett stars as the charming and vengeful Monty Navarro. He has appeared on Broadway in Wonderful Town directed by Kathleen Marshall and The Green Bird directed by Julie Taymor, and his Off Broadway credits include the world premiere of February House, Manon/Sandra, Debbie Does Dallas, The Whore of Sheridan Square and La Ronde, for which he received the Best Actor Award at the New York International Fringe Festival.

Jefferson Mays plays all eight ill-fated members of the D'Ysquith clan. Mays' Broadway debut in the one-man show I Am My Own Wife earned him the 2004 Tony Award for Best Lead Actor in a Play as well as Lucille Lortel, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Obie, Helen Hayes and Drama League Awards. His other Broadway credits include Journey's End, Pygmalion and last season's Gore Vidal's The Best Man, and his Off Broadway credits include the American premiere of Blood and Gifts, Measure for Measure, Quills and Orestes.

The cast of A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder also features Chilina Kennedy (Phoebe D'Ysquith), Lisa O'Hare (Sibella Hallward) and Heather Ayers, Rachel Izen, Kevin Ligon, KendAl Sparks, Price Waldman and Catherine Walker (Ensemble).