The Iceman Cometh, one of the season's most anticipated productions opens tonight, April 8, at Broadway's Brooks Atkinson Theatre. The star-powered UK revival of Eugene O'Neill's drama began previews March 29. Staged by Howard Davies, the revival will run only 91 performances and feature London cast originals Tim Pigott-Smith, James Hazeldine, Patrick Godfrey and, of course, Kevin Spacey.
In London, the hit Eugene O'Neill drama opened at the Old Vic June 19, 1998 for a run through Aug. 1, 1998. The Almeida Theatre production, directed by Davies (Almeida's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?), was greeted with ecstatic reviews and sold-out performances.
The Broadway cast also features Tony Danza (Rocky), Katie Finneran (Cora) and Robert Sean Leonard (Don Parritt). Danza's New York credits include A View From The Bridge and Wrong Turn at Lungfish. Finneran recently co-starred in a revival of John Guare's Bosoms and Neglect at Signature Theatre. Leonard's Broadway credits include Arcadia and Candida.
Also in the cast are Ed Dixon (Piet Wetjoen), Michael Emerson (Willie Oban), Paul Giamatti (Jimmy Tomorrow), Patrick Godfrey (Cecil Lewis), James Hazeldine (Harry Hope), Catherine Kellner (Margie), Clarke Peters (Joe Mott), Tim Pigott-Smith (Larry Slade), Richard Riehle (Pat McGloin), Steve Ryan (Moran), Stephen Singer (Hugo), Dina Spybey (Pearl), Skipp Sudduth (Chuck Morello), Ned Van Zandt (Lieb), and Jeff Weiss (Ed Mosher).
Producing the four and a half hour drama on Broadway are Allan S. Gordon, Bill Haber, Ira Pittelman, Elan McAllister, Trigger Street Productions and Emanuel Azenberg. The New York Post reports (March 26) that the show's advance sale has neared $5 million, quoting producer Azenberg as saying that even though top tickets are $100, "it's the least expensive show per-hour on Broadway."
Costumes and sets for both mountings have been designed by Bob Crowley, with lighting by Mark Henderson, sound by John A. Leonard, and original music composed by Paddy Cunneen.
The Iceman Cometh concerns the deluded pipe dreams of characters at Harry Hope's saloon who are confronted by Hickey (Spacey), a man who has broken free of his dreams and seeks to lead the others to do the same. Things come undone, however, when the reason for Hickey's transformation becomes known.
For tickets ($50-$100) and information on The Iceman Cometh at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre call (212) 307-4100. According to the NY Post, students with a valid ID can purchase two $20 tickets; a limited number are specially set aside after 5 PM each performance day.
