Comedian Dane Cook to appear on Broadway in Neil LaBute’s ‘Fat Pig’

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One polarizing, in-your-face artist clearly deserves the company of another. Comedian Dane Cook, whose manic, verbose stand-up acts are loathed and loved in equal measure, will be teaming up with playwright Neil LaBute for the Broadway premiere of ‘Fat Pig,’ which is scheduled to open in the spring of 2011.

LaBute’s plays are famous for their controversial and blunt-force subject matter, as well as their high density of swear words. ‘Fat Pig’ tells the story of Helen, an obese woman who gets into a romantic relationship with Tom, a slender thirtysomething man. Causing trouble is Tom’s obnoxious friend Carter, who antagonizes Helen about her weight.

Cook will play Carter while actor Josh Hamilton will take on Tom. The actress playing Helen will be announced at a later date.

LaBute will direct his own play, which has undergone some revisions since it was first performed. ‘Fat Pig’ was produced in Los Angeles at the Geffen Playhouse in 2007, starring Scott Wolf, Chris Pine and Kristen Vangsness. (The play had its premiere in 2004 at New York’s MCC Theatre.) A Times review of the L.A. production stated that LaBute’s play ‘is an effective chamber piece for smaller venues’ but that the story ‘can feel uncharacteristically thin for LaBute.’

Cook’s large fan base generally skews toward college students and young men.

-- David Ng

Photo (top): Dane Cook. Credit: Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times

Photo (bottom): Neil LaBute. Credit: Francois Durand / Getty Images

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