No one knows the phrase "subject to change" better than Boston's Huntington Theatre Company. They have officially announced a new lineup for their six-show 20th anniversary season.
The planned production of Tennessee Williams' Camino Real, which was to star Ethan Hawke (of the upcoming The Late Henry Moss Off Broadway), was canceled following his dropping out of the show. The slot will be filled by George Bernard Shaw's Heartbreak House starring Tony Award winner Richard Easton at Huntington's venue in Boston University.
James Joyce's The Dead will open the Huntington season, as previously announced. The Richard Nelson musical adaptation of James Joyce's famous short story played on Broadway where it earned a five Tony nominations and a win for Nelson's book. Nelson will repeat his work as director for Huntington. The show will run Sept. 7-Oct. 14.
Betty's Summer Vacation represented playwright Christopher Durang's biggest critical success in years when it premiered Off Broadway in 1999 under Nicholas Martin's direction. The revival of the Christopher Durang comedy will play Oct. 26-Nov. 25. Huntington artistic director Martin was to reunite with original cast members Kellie Overbey and Kristine Nielsen as they reprised their roles as Betty and Mrs. Siezmagraff. Due to scheduling conflicts though, Nielsen was replaced with Tony winner Andrea Martin (My Favorite Year). A Huntington press spokesperson could not confirm Overbey.
The replacement play, Heartbreak House, by Shaw, will be helmed by Darko Tresnjak. The play which follows the unlikely romantic encounters that occur in an estate on the English countryside. Easton, who won his Tony for his portrayal in last season's The Invention of Love, will play the role of Captain Shotover in the production. The production is scheduled to run Jan. 4-Feb. 3, 2002. Nixon’s Nixon by Russell Lees will follow March 1-31 under the direction of Charles Towers. The political satire speculates a meeting between former president Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger on the day before his resignation.
Artistic director Martin will then bring his Williamstown Theatre Festival production of Frank McGuinness' Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme. The anti-war drama which is now playing at WTF August 8-19 will return to Massachusetts on Huntington's stage for a May 17-June 16, 2002 run. Richard Easton stars in the Berkshire run. It could not be learned whether he will repeat his role in Boston.
The remaining production, yet to be determined, will be a joint venture with Clear Channel Entertainment/Broadway in Boston that will take place in Spring 2002 at the Wilbur Theatre. Two plays that are being considered are the 2000 Olivier Award winner for Best New Play blue/orange by Joe Penhall and Benn W. Levy's Springtime for Henry.
For tickets or subscriptions to Huntington's season, call their box office at (617) 266 8488. For more information, visit their website at www.bu.edu/huntington.
