This is Us star Chrissy Metz will make her theatre debut in a revival of the Neil LaBute play Fat Pig at the Geffen Playhouse in May, the Los Angeles theatre announced on Wednesday.
The news follows Metz’s Golden Globes nomination on Monday for her supporting role on the popular NBC dramedy.
Fat Pig, about a man forced to defend his love for his plus-size girlfriend after one too many insults are hurled at her, had its West Coast premiere at the Geffen in 2007. This time it will feature a revised script and a new ending. It will be directed by Jo Bonney, who helmed its original run at the Geffen, as well as its off-Broadway premiere in 2004.
“I feel so lucky to be returning to the Geffen Playhouse with a show that had such success there in its first incarnation, and with its original director, Jo Bonney. I can’t wait to work with Jo again and to have this exciting chance to see Chrissy Metz on stage,” LaBute said in the announcement.
The play is set to replace LaBute’s The Way We Get By as the final production in the Geffen’s 2017-2018 season. Previews begin on May 16, the show officially opens May 23, and it ends June 24.
A representative for the theatre said the decision to swap Fat Pig for The Way We Get By was a “matter of stars aligning”.
“Chrissy wanted to do a full run of the show, LaBute had an updated script, and we had a LaBute play already in our season at a time when Chrissy was available,” a spokeswoman said by email.
