Alan Tudyk to Star in THAT BEAUTIFUL LAUGH

La MaMa presents the New York Premiere of That Beautiful Laugh, the inaugural theatrical production by The Artigiani Troupe. That Beautiful Laugh, a clown show conceived and directed by Obie Award Winner Orlando Pabotoy, stars Alan Tudyk, Julia Ogilvie and Carlton Ward, and is part of La MaMa's 50th Anniversary season. The production runs from March 16 – 25, 2012 in a limited engagement at The Club at La MaMa, located at 74A East 4th Street between 2nd Avenue and the Bowery in New York City.

Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 10pm and Sunday at 5:30pm. Tickets are $18 and $13 for students/seniors and can be purchased online at http://LaMaMa.org, in person at the box office or by calling 212-475-7710. The running time is 90 minutes. For more information on the show visit http://www.ThatBeautifulLaugh.com.

That Beautiful Laugh is a comedy piece that features clowning and live music. Created by the director, Orlando Pabotoy, That Beautiful Laugh was inspired by his nightly bedtime ritual of developing stories with his five-year-old son. This family friendly show, based on his son's musings on different types of laughter, tells the story of a world where laughter is forgotten and rediscovered. Original music combined with new renditions of old favorites compliment this journey about the power and beauty of laughter in our lives.

Alan Tudyk currently stars on the ABC television series "Suburgatory." His theater credits include Broadway productions of Epic Proportions, Prelude to a Kiss and Spamalot, and his Off-Broadway credits include The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told, Wonder of the World, Bunny Bunny, Misalliance and Oedipus. Alan's film credits include 28 Days, 3:10 to Yuma, Dodgeball, Hearts in Atlantis, I Robot, A Knight's Tale, Knocked Up, Meet Market, Serenity, Transformers 3, Tucker & Dale vs. Evil, Wonder Boys, the original English production of Death at a Funeral and the upcoming Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. His other television credits include "Arrested Development," "CSI," "Dollhouse," "Firefly" and "Strangers With Candy."

Obie Award Winner Orlando Pabotoy's recent works include adapting and directing The World In The Moon at Juilliard, and choreographing The Cherry Orchard at Classic Stage Company (with John Turturro). Pabotoy co-created and directed the critically acclaimed Off-Broadway production of Creation, directed Scapin at Juilliard (with Bill Irwin as adaptor/choreographer), choreographed Romeo and Juliet at Shakespeare Santa Cruz, choreographed Andrei Belgrader's production of Pericles at UCSD and USC, and directed a revival of Someone Who'll Watch Over Me for the Sounding Theater Company. He has taught for the Juilliard School, the Graduate Programs at Tisch NYU, the University of Texas in Austin, Bard College, The Old Globe, UCSD, Cal Arts, and has served as faculty for The Public Theater's Shakespeare Summer Lab. He is currently a faculty member of NYU's Drama Department. Pabotoy is a co-founder of The Clown School in Los Angeles, CA. He has performed at The Met Opera House, The Public Theater, NYTW, CTG Kirk Douglas, Old Globe and Yale Rep. His TV credits include "Whoopi" on NBC, "Strangers With Candy" on Comedy Central and "JAG" on CBS. He is a graduate of the Juilliard School and the recipient of a Fox Fellowship and John Houseman Award.

Musician Harrison Beck will accompany the cast on the accordion and vocals. Additional clowns and cast members to be announced.

The creative and design team includes Byron Easley (Choreography), Scott Tedmon-Jones (Set Design) Peter West (Light Design) and Tilly Grimes (Costume Design). Cristina Sisson is the Production Stage Manager.

The Italian word Artigiani historically referred to craft-makers of all kinds, including the theatre artists of the Middle Ages who performed Commedia dell'arte as they traveled from town to town. In this tradition, The Artigiani Troupe crosses artistic borders with their multi-disciplinary work as they revive the art of clowning and Commedia. Like their traveling forefathers, they perform in any town in any space, blending old works with new creations to devise theatre that nourishes both audiences and artists alike.

La MaMa is accessible from the F train to 2nd Ave. or the #6 train to Bleecker St.