The acclaimed new staging of Ibsen's classic, Hedda Gabler, starring Kate Burton, adapted by Jon Robin Baitz and directed by Nicholas Martin, has lined up its full producing team, with the production scheduled to open, as previously announced, Oct. 4 at the Ambassador Theatre.
Hedda comes off a much-acclaimed run in Boston, where it opened Jan. 3 to rosy reviews from the usually tough Boston Globe and Boston Herald. The show began life at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. In Boston, repeating performances they played in Williamstown, as well as at the Bay Street Theatre in Long Island, were Burton, Michael Emerson, David Lansbury and Harris Yulin. They play Hedda, Tesman, Lovborg and Judge Brack, respectively. Full casting for the Broadway production is expected to be announced this week or early next, according to spokespersons at Boneau/Bryan-Brown.
Producing Hedda Gabler on Broadway are Randall L. Wreghitt, Harriet Newman Leve, Gallin Productions and USA Ostar Theatricals, in association with Bay Street Theatre, Huntington Theatre Company and Williamstown Theatre Festival, with Jennifer Manocherian, Mary Lu Roffe, Cheryl Wiesenfeld and Temple Gill serving as associate producers. Performances begin Sept. 19.
Designing the show are Alexander Dodge (set), Michael Krass (costumes), Kevin Adams (lighting) and Jerry Yager (sound). Peter Golub will contribute original music to the piece.
As reported earlier by PBOL, Hedda had wanted to open on Broadway this past spring, but opted for a fall 2001 bow instead. "Initially, we were hoping we'd finish up here and literally come in [to New York] at the beginning of February," Burton told Playbill On-Line (Jan. 5). A lack of available Broadway theatres, however, threw a wrench into that timetable. "The fall is looking more and more like a wonderful time," said Burton. "When we do it we want to do it right. We want to do it with enough lead time." (A summer run was not feasible, since Burton spends the season with her husband, Michael Richie, producer of the June-to- September Williamstown Theatre Festival.) Actress Burton was last seen on the New York stage in Brian Friel's Give Me Your Answer, Do!. Adaptor Baitz also penned Three Hotels and Mizlansky/Zilinsky. Director Martin staged the Off Broadway hits Fully Committed and Full Gallop. Author Ibsen also wrote A Doll's House and When We Dead Awaken.
For tickets ($30-$70) and information on Hedda Gabler at the Ambassador Theatre, 219 West 49th St., call (212) 239-6200.
