LaBute to direct companion to 'Pretty'

NEW YORK, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- Playwright Neil LaBute is to direct the world premiere of his play, "Reasons to Be Happy," this spring, New York's MCC Theater said Friday.

The show is a companion piece to LaBute's award-winning play, "Reasons to Be Pretty," which was first produced at MCC Theater in 2008 before moving to Broadway.

Performances of "Happy" are to begin at the Lucille Lortel Theatre May 16 and will continue through June 23. An official opening is set for June 2.

Additional information, including complete casting, will be announced shortly, the theater said.

"Reasons to Be Happy" replaces a previously announced production of John Pollono's "Small Engine Repair," which has been delayed due to new filming scheduling conflicts for previously announced cast members.

MCC said it intends to stage "Small Engine Repair" at a later date.

"LaBute's new play begins three years after a contentious break-up, with Steph and Greg wondering if they can make a fresh go of it," a synopsis of "Reasons to Be Happy" said. "Trouble is, she's married to someone else and he's just embarked on a relationship with Steph's best friend, Carly, a single mom whose jealous ex-husband, Kent, has trouble articulating his feelings -- navigating the rocky landscape of conflicting agendas and exploding emotions isn't going to be easy for any of them."