André De Shields to star in 'Tartuffe' off Broadway

The Tony Award-winning actor will play the title role in a new production of Molière’s classic performed for only 100 guests per night.

Tony Award winner André De Shields will star in a new production of Tartuffe off Broadway this fall, running at House of the Redeemer from October 3 to November 23 only. Opening night is October 9.

De Shields will play the title role in Molière’s classic play set at the estate of Orgon, who falsely believes in Tartuffe as a holy man worthy of worship instead of the "demon of deceit" he really is, inviting disaster, greed, and lust.

Alongside De Shields (Hadestown, Cats: The Jellicle Ball), the cast includes Tony Award nominee Amber Iman as Elmire, Tyler Hardwick as Damis, Phoebe Dunn as Dorinne, Charlie Lubeck as Valere, Hannah Beck as Cleante, Chris Hahn as Orgon, Todd Buonopane as Mme. Pernelle, and Alexandra Socha as Mariane. James Preston Bates, Bex Odorisio, and Marcus Fitzpatrick are understudies.

Each performance will accommodate just 100 guests, who will be close the action in a library transported floorboard by floorboard from a monastery in Italy. The unique venue allows for an intimate and opulent experience, and premium VIP tickets unlock entry to Tartuffe’s "sycophant soirée" with live music and access to a historic, hidden part of the venue.

Tartuffe is translated by Ranjit Bolt and directed by Keaton Wooden. Additional cast and creative team members will be announced at a later date.

“At its core, Tartuffe is a morality tale about our capacity for collective madness: how effortlessly we become spellbound by the things we most want to believe," Wooden said in a statement. "And as we know, this is no distant fable; in many ways, we are living in the Age of Tartuffe. Happening before our eyes, up close and personal.

"And to help that sink in, we are inviting the audiences to live it with us, to step inside, and hopefully discover a spark of courage by confronting these grave and serious truths by treating them, for one evening together, very un-seriously."

The House of the Redeemer production is separate from New York Theatre Workshop's Off-Broadway Tartuffe production, running from November 28 to January 11 and starring Matthew Broderick.

Check back for information on Tartuffe tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

Photo credit: André De Shields. (Photo by Lia Chang)