F. Murray Abraham Joins Terrence McNally's 'Golden Age'

Italian composers seem to be F. Murray Abraham's forte.

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The American-born character actor, who took home the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as the Italian composer Antonio Salieri in Amadeus, can now add another Italian composer to his resume as he steps into the role of Gioacchino Rossini in Terrence McNally's new play, Golden Age.

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The actor, who most recently appeared on The Good Wife and FX's Louie, will take over the role for Richard Easton, who is leaving the Off Broadway production for personal reasons, according to producing company Manhattan Theatre Club.

The cast change will not affect the play's first preview date scheduled for this Thursday at New York City Center Stage I. Opening night remains set for Dec. 4.

Abraham joins an already impressive cast that includes Emmy and Tony Award-winner Bebe Neuwirth, Lee Pace, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Dierdre Friel, Coco Monroe, Ethan Phillips, Lorenzo Pisoni and Will Rogers.

Directed by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie (Chicago), Golden Age focuses on the life of composer Vincenzo Bellini, played by Pace, and is set in Paris on the opening night of his opera I Puritani.

Email: Joshua.Stecker@thr.com; Twitter: @joshuastecker