Andre Braugher headed back to N.Y. stage

NEW YORK, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Actor Andre Braugher is to star in the New York premiere of Mathew Lopez's stage drama "The Whipping Man," the Manhattan Theatre Club announced.

Braugher is one of the leads in TV's "Men of a Certain Age." He also starred in the drama series "Homicide: Life on the Streets" and in the miniseries "Thief."

On stage, Braugher received an Obie Award for his performance in the 1996 Shakespeare in the Park production of "Henry V." Other New York stage credits include "Hamlet," "The Tragedy of Richard II," "Measure for Measure" and "Twelfth Night."

He is to play a former slave named Simon in "The Whipping Man," which is set just after the U.S. Civil War. Preview performances of the play are to begin Jan. 13. The show's official opening is scheduled for Feb. 1.

The Manhattan Theatre Club described the historical drama as "a tale of loyalty, deceit and deliverance, and a fascinating portrayal of three men, and this country."