Joe Manganiello To Star In Terrence Mcnally’s Unusual Acts Of Devotion

April 15, 2009 - PRLog -- San Diego, CA— Recently seen starring as “Lt. Sean Macklin” in Fox Home Entertainment’s “Behind Enemy Lines: Columbia,” beginning June 7, 2009, actor Joe Manganiello is set to star alongside Tony award winner Harriet Harris, Emmy award winners Doris Roberts (“Everybody Loves Raymond”) and Richard Thomas (“The Waltons”) and Maria Dizzia in the west coast premiere of multiple Tony award winner, Pulitzer Prize Finalist, and legendary American playwright Terrence McNally’s new play, “Unusual Acts of Devotion.”

Manganiello stars as "Leo," a native New York jazz musician celebrating his fifth wedding anniversary with his wife "Nadine." Of the role, he shares, “Every trained actor studies Terrence McNally at some point, it's just part of your education, but having the opportunity to work intensely with him on his newest play is unfathomable... there are no words... he is one of the greatest playwrights to have ever lived and his characters are so thoughtful and heartfelt and familiar. I had the honor of working alongside Terrence in creating the role of ‘Leo’ last summer at the Ojai Playwright's Conference and am beside myself that he has given me his blessing to play him again in the west coast premiere at La Jolla."

Running June 7th-28th at the La Jolla Playhouse at the University of California, San Diego, “Unusual Acts of Devotion” charts the relationship between five individuals, damaged cities and damaged souls, loves lost and recovered, and the joys of simple but enduring acts of devotion over the course of one revealing night on the roof their East Village apartment building.

Since earning a BFA in acting from the Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama, Manganiello has excelled in television, film and theatre. On the stage, Joe reprised his role as “The Chick Magnet” in the May 2007 NYC premiere of Gloria Calederon Kellet’s monologue show SKIRTS & FLIRTS, which was originated at LA’s Hudson Theatre and was a finalist for HBO’s Aspen Comedy Festival. Then in July 2008, Joe was reunited with former Carnegie Mellon professor Geoffrey Hitch, who directed him in the role of “Stanley Kowalski” in A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE at the West Virginia Public Theatre.

Off stage, in addition to his recent role in “Behind Enemy Lines: Columbia,” he has played opposite Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, and James Franco in Spider Man and Spider Man - 3, both directed by Sam Raimi. Joe also returned this season to the hit teen CW drama, “One Tree Hill” as “Owen,” the love interest of Sophia Bush’s character.  In addition to many other TV roles, he has also recurred on FOX’s “Til Death,” NBC's “ER,” VH1's “So NoTORIous,” and the hit CBS series, “How I Met Your Mother.”

For more information on Joe Manganiello please visit www.joemanganiello.com.  For media inquiries and appearance requests please contact Mona Loring or Jordyn Borczon of MLC PR at 818-706-8080 or contact@monaloring.com.    

About Joe Manganiello

Since earning a BFA in acting from The Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama, actor Joe Manganiello has excelled in television, film and theatre. He stars as “Lt. Sean Macklin” in Fox Home Entertainment’s BEHIND ENEMY LINES: COLOMBIA, directed by Tim Matheson. He played opposite Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, and James Franco in SPIDER-MAN and SPIDER-MAN 3, both directed by Sam Raimi. Joe returned this season to the hit teen drama ONE TREE HILL (CW) as “Owen,” the love interest of Sophia Bush’s character, “Brooke.”  He has recurred on FOX’s half-hour comedy, TIL DEATH, opposite Brad Garrett and Joely Fisher, as well as on the hit (CBS) series, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER opposite Jason Segel (“I Love You Man,” “Forgetting Sarah Marshal”). Additionally, Joe played Linda Cardellini's love interest “Officer Litchman” on E.R. (NBC) for several seasons, and starred as series regular “Solomon Cortez” opposite AnnaLynne McCord (“90210”), on AMERICAN HEIRESS (MyNetwork TV). Other credits include: Tori Spelling's SO NOTORIOUS (VH1), John Leguizamo's EDISON (CBS), CSI (CBS), CLOSE TO HOME (CBS), LAS VEGAS (NBC), JAKE IN PROGRESS (ABC), CSI: MIAMI (CBS), and SCRUBS (NBC) directed by Zach Braff.

About La Jolla Playhouse

Under inspired leadership, La Jolla Playhouse has earned its place in the international theatre scene. The Playhouse’s brilliant and innovative productions of classics, new plays and musicals, including 41 world premieres, 24 West Coast premieres and seven American premieres, have merited over 300 major honors including the 1993 Tony Award as America’s Outstanding Regional Theatre.

# # #

MLC PR is a top-tier public relations firm specializing in literary, lifestyle and entertainment communication services.