Jesse Eisenberg, the Oscar-nominated star of ‘The Social Network,’ will make his professional New York debut as a playwright with an Off Broadway production of ‘Asuncion’ in the fall.
The play centers on two friends who view themselves as open-minded liberals – one blogs about American imperialism; the other is finishing a PhD in Black Studies – and how those self-perceptions are challenged when a young Filipina becomes their new roommate. Eisenberg also will appear in the play, directed by Kip Fagan. Presented by Rattlestick Playwrights Theater as part of its 2011-12 season, but running off-site at the Cherry Lane Theater, the production will begin previews October 12 for an official October 27 opening. Prior to playing Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg in ‘The Social Network’,” Eisenberg appeared in such films as ‘The Squid and the Whale,’ ‘Roger Dodger’ and ‘Zombieland.’ His last New York stage appearance was in Lucy Thurber’s ‘Scarcity’ at Off Broadway’s Atlantic Theater Company in 2007. In addition to ‘Asuncion,’ Eisenberg has written another play, ‘The Revisionist,’ as well as writing the score and lyrics to a musical titled ‘Me Time!’
