Thursday, January 29, 2015

'With You' Celebrates Stars' Dual Milestones

You Can’t Take It With You is proud to celebrate a very special day – January 30th, which marks the date of James Earl Jones’ Broadway debut fifty seven years ago.  On January 30th 1958, James Earl Jones, currently starring as Martin Vanderhof in You Can’t Take It With You, made his Broadway debut in Sunrise at Campobello at The Cort Theatre. Emmy Award-winning screen and stage star Richard Thomas (“The Waltons”, “The Americans”, Race) who is currently starring as Paul Sycamore, also made his Broadway debut – at the age of seven – in Sunrise at Campobello.

The play marks the first time Thomas has performed on stage with James Earl Jones in more than 50 years.  They reunite after last appearing on stage together in their Broadway debuts in 1958’s Sunrise at Campobello.  And while this is their first time working together since that time, they have appeared combined in nearly 100 productions in the theatre.

You Can’t Take It With You began previews on Tuesday, August 26th, 2014, opened on Sunday, September 28th, 2014 at the Longacre Theatre (220 West 48th Street) and extended its initial limited run to Sunday, February 22nd 2015.   Tickets are sold on Telecharge.com or by calling 212-239-6200.

The production is directed by six-time Tony Award nominee Scott Ellis (The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Curtains, 1776). The cast includes:  Tony Award and Outer Critics’ Circle winner James Earl Jones (Gore Vidal’s The Best Man, Fences, The Great White Hope) as Martin Vanderhof, Emmy Award-nominated TV and film star Anna Chlumsky (“Veep”, My Girl) as Alice Sycamore, Tony Award winner Elizabeth Ashley (Take Her, She’s Mine, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Gore Vidal’s The Best Man) as The Grand Duchess Olga, Tony Award nominee Annaleigh Ashford (Kinky Boots, Wicked, “Masters of Sex”) as Essie Carmichael, Tony Award nominee Johanna Day (Proof, August: Osage County) as Mrs. Kirby, three-time Drama Desk nominee Julie Halston (Anything Goes, The Divine Sister) as Gay Wellington, Byron Jennings (The Merchant of Venice, Inherit the Wind) as Mr. Kirby, Patrick Kerr (Stage Kiss, The Ritz) as Mr. De Pinna, Fran Kranz (Death of a Salesman) as Tony Kirby, Tony Award nominee Kristine Nielsen (Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike) as Penelope Sycamore, Tony Award nominee Reg Rogers (Holiday, The Royal Family) as Boris Kolenkhov, Will Brill (Act One) as Ed Carmichael, Nick Corley (The Mystery of Edwin Drood) as a G-Man,  Theatre World Award winner Crystal A. Dickinson (Clybourne Park) as Rheba, Austin Durant (War Horse) as a G-Man, Marc Damon Johnson (Lucky Guy) as Donald, Karl Kenzler (Mary Poppins) as Henderson, and Joe Tapper (Witnessed By The World) as a G-Man.

The design team includes: scenic design by Tony Award nominee David Rockwell (Kinky Boots, Hairspray), costume design by 2014 special Tony Award recipient Jane Greenwood (Act One, Waiting for Godot), lighting design by two-time Tony Award winner Donald Holder (South Pacific, The Lion King), sound design by Jon Weston (The Bridges of Madison County), and hair and wig design by Tom Watson (Act One, Waiting for Godot). Three-time Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown (The Bridges of Madison County, The Last Five Years, Parade) composed original music for the production.

You Can’t Take It With You is produced by Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel, Jam Theatricals, Dominion Pictures, Gutterman & Winkler, Daryl Roth, Terry Schnuck, Jane Bergère, Caiola Productions, Rebecca Gold, LaRuffa & Hinderliter, Larry Magid, Gabrielle Palitz, Spisto & Kierstead, SunnySpot Productions, VenuWorks Theatricals, Jessica Genick and Will Trice.

No comments: