John Guare's historical fiction, A Few Stout Individuals, which was extended a couple weeks to June 16, will close on that date at Signature Theatre Company in Manhattan.
William Sadler, Polly Holliday and Donald Moffat are among cast members in the world premiere of A Few Stout Individuals, which opened May 12 under the direction of Michael Greif. Previews began at the Peter Norton Space April 23. Performances were to continue to June 2, then it was bumped to June 9 and finally June 16.
*
Signature, which presents the work of a specific writer for an entire season, devoted its 1998-99 season to Guare. The current season is made up of individual works by writers represented over the past ten years. Next season, Lanford Wilson is the sole focus.
The new Guare play includes such characters as The Emperor of Japan (James Yaegashi), Samuel Clemens (William Sadler), Ulysses S. Grant (Moffat) and his wife (Polly Holliday). The nature of history and memory is addressed in the new work, as those around the dying Grant engage Clemens to pen a biography of the great general, but the depleted Grant does not have any memory left. The cast features Michi Barall (Carson McCullers at Playwrights Horizons-WPP), Charles Brown (King Hedley II — Drama Desk Award and Tony nominee), Umit Celebi (Chaucer in Rome at Lincoln Center), Cheryl Evans, Mark Fish (Chaucer in Rome at Lincoln Center), Amy Hohn (June Moon at the Drama Dept.), Holliday (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof — Tony nominee), T. J. Kenneally, Tom McGowan (La Bete — Tony nominee), Clark Middleton (The Late Henry Moss at Signature), Moffat ("Regarding Henry," "The Evening Star"), Sadler ('The Green Mile," "The Shawshank Redemption," "Roswell") and Yaegashi (Macbeth at TFANA).
Designers are Allen Moyer (set), Gabriel Berry (costume), Jim Vermeulen (lighting) and David Van Tieghem (sound). Production Stage Manager will be Michael McGoff. Signature's Peter Norton Space is located at 555 W. 42nd Street (between 10th and 11th Avenues). For subscription and ticket information, call (212) 244-PLAY. For additional information, visit signaturetheatre.org.
—By Robert Simonson
and Kenneth Jones
